Moving slowly down the trail and looking remarkably like the earth he walked on we found this American Toad. He did look a bit grumpy and reluctant for us to take his photo so we let him be as he moved along into the grass beyond.
Tag: wilderness
Kings of the hill
These male Elk seemed ok with sharing the title “king of the hill” this afternoon although it seems certain that will not be the case this fall.
Western Bluebird
After literally bringing some grub to feed his young a male Western Bluebird leaves the nesting box and perches on a fence pole in search of more food for the rapidly growing brood. We watched as both the male and female shuttled food in and waste out of the nest box with their young still safely tucked away inside.
The Western Bluebird is not as common as the Mountain Bluebird so it is always a pleasure to see that brilliant blue and orange. A fine way to start a summers day.
Chestnut-Backed Chickadee
Hearing the Chickadees calling in the trees above our heads we expected to look up and see either a black-capped or mountain chickadee as we had seen them earlier this day. However to our surprise we we greeted by this little Chestnut-Backed Chickadee looking down at us and hunting insects just above our heads.
The all about birds website starts their description of this bird by calling them handsome and I would have to whole heartedly agree with that.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee/id
Good Catch
Terns are one our favorites to watch hunting. So elegant and graceful yet powerful and precise.
A Forsters Tern appears to make the catch of a small minnow where X marks the spot.
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
The pace of place
Finding a place where time moves at a pace.
Just the right pace.
A pace that feels like home.
Wild Iris
This year the spring rains have been generous and brought an abundance of Wild Iris to the high arid grasslands of Northern Colorado. Will the wet summer continue or will things dry out. Only time will tell.
In a Sea of Sage
A female Greater Sage Grouse making her home in the vast sea of sage near Walden, CO.
Around the bend
And around again.
So it goes.
Ah, So it goes.
Pasque morning
This is the time of year for the magnificent Pasqueflowers to bloom and brighten the hillsides, forests and meadows near town.
These flowers are part of the genus Pulsitilla family which contains numerous species spread across the globe and are the state flower of South Dakota. We noticed two distinct species while on a recent walk with both growing along the sunny hillsides and one growing just about everywhere in both sun and shade.
Hope we can get back out before they are done blooming and wishing you all a Pasque morning.
nature has no boss 
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