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.
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 friendsThe 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
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 LakeCheck out that arch!Lots of snow in the mountains.Sleeping BeautyShe 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.
I apologize for the delay in posting Photo Two of Gay’s Black and White Photo Challenge. I will blame the delay on the two in the photo below. {grins} Thanks guys for providing this photo.
Howard, Paul and Rhonda
Our friends, Paul and Rhonda, came for a visit and we decided to take a ride up to Rocky Mountain National Park and walked around Sprague Lake. Monday was a beautiful day for a ride and a short hike with blue skies and white puffy clouds. We enjoyed a fun couple of days and look forward to their return to Colorado.
A little history about Sprague Lake…
Abney Sprague homesteaded in the area more that a century ago, around 1874, and created a trout pond by damming a stream. This pond is known today as Sprague lake.
Sprague Lake offers magnificent views of some of the highest peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park. As you walk around the lake and gaze up toward these peaks you are looking at part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which extends from the Canadian border in Montana, through Rocky Mountain National Park, to the border of Mexico.
Rocky Mountain National Park is breathtaking with 12,000 foot mountain peaks, 300 miles of hiking trails, gorgeous wildflowers, abundant wildlife and much more. I took many photos on Monday and will be posting some in the next few days.
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