Notice the beautiful yellow throat, and the yellow patches on the sides and on top of the head.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet looking for food in the pines.
This little guy was flitting around from branch to branch and tree to tree, so this is the best photo I could capture of his ruby crowned head.
The header photo is a Pink-sided Junco, which was busy hunting for food in and around patches of snow. I was lucky it decided to get a better view of its surrounding by hopping up on this boulder.
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. Note the complete and conspicuous white eye-ring.Brown crown with fine black streaks. Upper parts buffy-brown and streaked.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.
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.
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.
This little guy was flitting around from branch to branch and tree to tree, so this is the best photo I could capture of his ruby crowned head.
Wolf Song Blog 