All posts by Sheila

I have a passion for the outdoors and I am most happy enjoying what nature has to offer. Hobbies include photography, birding, Pickleball, astronomy, biking, and hiking. I have been happily married, for 50 years, to an amazing person.

At Home, Photos-Birds

~A new bird, Willows and an old Beaver Dam

May 16, 2015 Sheila 2 Comments

On Monday, while visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, I observed two small sparrow like birds in a bush near the water. Turns out they are Brewer’s Sparrows. I was grateful to get these photos; they sure didn’t want to be seen.

I haven’t seen this bird before so it becomes number 386 on my Birding Life List!

Brewer's Sparrow — Brewer’s Sparrow. Note the complete and conspicuous white eye-ring.

#386 — Brown crown with fine black streaks. Upper parts buffy-brown and streaked.

Hiding — Hiding! Number 386.

Close-up of a Willow Bush, just starting to bloom.

Willows are the dominant woody shrub on almost all wet meadow or riparian areas in the park. They establish on point bars, abandoned beaver ponds, and abandoned channels or ox-bows.

Fun Facts:

Willows can establish from seeds or from willow roots or stems that implant into the ground. Shoots from the roots are important because they allow existing willow plants and root systems to maintain themselves for long periods of time.
They provide shade to streams and critical habitat for a large number of terrestrial and aquatic species.
They slow water flow and allow the ground to absorb water and nutrients.
They stabilize stream banks.
They provide food and construction material for beavers and their dams which benefit ecosystem processes.
Willow growth and height in the park is determined by large ungulate and beaver browsing. Willows have evolved defenses against browsing. They can grow tall very rapidly beyond the height of browsing or they can produce defense compounds that make them less palatable to large ungulates like moose and elk.
Willow have declined in Rocky Mountain National Park meadows because there are fewer beaver and elk overbrowse their leaves and stems.

Info taken from park web-site:

An old Beaver Dam — An old Beaver Dam. Notice the Willows.

At Home, Photo Challenge, Photos-Birds

~Common Ravens?

May 15, 2015 Sheila 2 Comments

Gay’s Black & White Photo Challenge #3

Black & White Photo Challenge #3 — Bird Four

So long

I have been sitting here, for awhile with several bird books, trying to decide if these birds are all the same species and if they are Common Ravens.

Please let me know what you think – Common Ravens (Y/N).

Bird One:

Bird Two:

Best photo to view all feature descriptions.

Bird Three:

This one if my favorite. Notice the eye; he was watching me.

Showing shaggy neck.

At Home, Photos-Birds, Poetry

~A handsome fellow with a green head

May 14, 2015 Sheila 4 Comments

~

Through the trees,

at water’s edge,

A handsome fellow,

with a green head.

Through the Trees at Waters Edge

~

Enjoys a swim,

and searching for food,

head first he plunges,

unaware he is being viewed.

~

Using his feet,

to paddle around,

he goes in circles,

not making a sound.

~

Water swirls,

up he pops,

needs a breath,

off his body water drops.

~

Head first he tries again,

makes a wider circle,

paddles faster,

focused on his purpose.

~

This male Mallard made us giggle. We watched him tipping head first into the pond and using his feet to paddle around searching for seeds, plants and snails.

At Home, Photos-Wildlife

~My Sleepy Elk and his friends

May 13, 2015 Sheila 5 Comments

Here are photos of three of the four Elk we spotted while driving toward Estes Park. These guys were lounging around in someone’s front yard. Perhaps full and lazy after a fine meal.

The Sleepy Guy

They were laying behind this fence on the grass and I didn’t want to get too close and bother them.

The Sleepy Guy and his friends

The Alert One

“Okay, you’re had your fun, now go away.”

These young Bull Elk are still sporting some of their winter coat, which will be replaced with shiny, smooth hair.

If you would like to read more about Elk visit this web site called Elk Facts. Below are a few Antler Facts taken from this web-site:

Antlers

Only male elk have antlers
Bulls shed and grow a new set of antlers every year
New antlers are covered in fuzzy skin called velvet
Antlers harden by late summer and the velvet peels away
By September, antlers are solid bone
A set of antlers on a mature bull can weigh up to 40 pounds

Featured photo: Meet another friend.

A little tease on an upcoming post.

At Home, Photos-Birds, Photos-Landscapes, Photos-Wildlife

~Rocky Mountain National Park-Our walk around Sprague Lake

May 13, 2015 Sheila 11 Comments

As we walked around the lake every now and then a cold gust of wind would make us want to hunker down. We would bring jacket hoods up and hands would seek the warmth of pockets. The gusts of wind wouldn’t last and the beauty surrounding us motivated us onward.

Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

There were some hardy souls in the lake fly fishing. What a lovely way to spend a few hours.

A happy guy fly fishing at Sprague Lake

Check out that arch!

Lots of snow in the mountains.

Sleeping Beauty

She Awakens

As we were driving out of Rocky toward Estes Park, seeking a late lunch, we saw three young bull Elk taking a snooze. This is the featured image from above; this young bull Elk looked very tired. He was laying his head on a tree stump.

Another Sleeping Beauty?

More photos to come! I hope you enjoyed your visit to Sprague Lake today.

Enjoying retirement: On The Road & At Home