I didn’t see any bears this week in the Rockies, but a number of other creatures great and small made timely appearances. Elk were the largest animals I saw, including a group of does which foraged near my campsite in Moraine Park.
Perhaps the “money shot” from the trip was this elk grazing in front of spectacular Hayden Gorge. The Hayden Spire is the prominent pinnacle on the right.
Nearby, two bull elks with impressive velvety antlers were finding morsels on the tundra. Several other elk were focused on eating and ignored the throngs of humans dotting Trail Ridge Road. With some more patience, I might have captured them in a more “classic” pose, but the cold wind and upper 40s temperatures convinced me to settle for this shot.
Other than additional elk, the only other large animal I saw was a mountain goat, which was using this road marker to scratch his head. This photo was taken on the Mount Evans Road.
On the tundra, lots of marmots were playing and sunning themselves on the rocks.
I saw smaller rodents frequently, though most would not sit still long enough for me to aim my camera at them. This golden mantled ground squirrel, on the other hand, posed nicely.
The sounds of birds were in the air for most of the trip, filling the day from an hour before sunrise until after the late sunset. I saw more turkeys than I have seen at any other place, especially whenever I’ve been with a group trying to hunt turkeys. This gobbler was picking meals among the wildflowers in Moraine Park.
Baby ducks are always cute. These were among a family of five, with a proud mother, finding meals in the shallows of Sprague Lake.
Finally, the many lakes and streams of Rocky Mountain National Park are frequently visited by anglers. Some species may be caught and kept, but native greenback cutthroat trout must be released when caught.
More photos from my Colorado trip will be posted soon are posted. See the links below the photo information.
Elk Browsing by My Campsite, RM09-0627-4284R; Elk and Hayden Spire, RM09-0629-4538R; Elk on the Tundra, RM09-0629-4543R; Marmot in the Sun, RM09-0629-4559R; Puffy Cheeks, RM09-0627-4306R; Wild Turkey, RM09-0626-4259R; Baby Ducks in Sprague Lake, RM09-0626-4218R; and Greenback Cutthroat Trout, RM09-0627-4343R; Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado | Mountain Goat on Mount Evans, CO09-0629-4633R, Arapaho National Forest, Colorado | ©2009 Jeff Blaylock
Complete trip report:
- Day 1: Stormy Day in the Rockies
- Day 2: Fern, Odessa and Cub Lakes
- Day 3: Three Gorges
- Day 4: Trail Ridge to Mount Evans
Also see:
- Rocky Mountain High, a blog entry from beside the Big Thompson River in Estes Park
- Loch Vale, some photos from my dayhike to Loch Vale
- Wildlife Shots From the Rockies, photos of wildlife spotted during the trip
- Wildflower Shots From the Rockies, photos of blooms found during the trip
- Self Portrait at Odessa Lake, photo of me at this beautiful lake
- Photo 2000 – Mills Lake, the 2,000th photo posted to jeffblaylock.com
- Chapel on the Rock, photos and write-up of my visit to this famed Catholic church
Potentially related posts:
- Wildflowers in the Rockies
- Self Portrait at Odessa Lake
- Photo 2,000 – Mills Lake
- Trail Ridge to Mount Evans
- Stormy Day in the Rockies
- Loch Vale
- Chapel on the Rock
Tags: alpine vistas, baby animals, birds, campsite views, ducks, elk, fish, jun09 colorado trip, marmots, mount evans, mountain goats, rocks, rocky mountain national park, squirrels, tundra, turkeys, Wildlife