We saw this guy sitting contently at the edge of a temporary pond along a quiet country road in eastern Colorado. I know grackles have a bad reputation with many but that reputation sure cannot be based upon their looks and what a fine looking guy he is.
Last Sunday the wind was blowing hard but that did not deter these little Tree Swallows from spending their day looking for a suitable summer residence and it sure seemed like box 29 was high on their list of desirable homes.
The competition was high and words of caution we flying as freely as these swallows glide through the skies.
A quick resting spot on the roof was in order and acceptable to both shoppers at box 29.
Photographed on a very windy morning at Hutton Lakes NWR, near Laramie WY.
Yesterday these two Barn Swallows were hanging out on a fence near a lake where we took an afternoon walk. Nice to see them back in town and their colors are sure vibrant right now. Soon after these photos were shot they took off and were buzzing around the lake hunting for bugs which is always an amazing sight to observe.
A Killdeer finds a quiet spot in a temporary pond along a country road for a leisurely afternoon bath.
Although it was a cloudy day with flat light it was a good day for a bath.
Weld County, CO.
Was it the hike itself, the early morning sunlight or the small window we were hiking to in the rock wall? All seemed like windows in which to experience the wonderful nature therapy offered up in Bryce Canyon on a sunny spring morning.
Happy Earth day.
Hope you all have a chance to get out and enjoy the wondrous beautiful planet we all live on.
And just as an experiment how about we make every day Earth day.
A male Ruddy Duck cruises the waters of Lake John near Walden Colorado showing off his wondrous blue bill.
Two Antelope…they can be just dots on the landscape or present in the foreground but either way Pronghorn make the western landscape complete.
Looking west from the Pawnee National Grasslands two Pronghorn graze far in the distance with the northern front range of Rocky Mountains as a back drop.
This time looking east from the sage lands of North Park two Antelope graze west of the continental divide.
April, 2017.
There is nothing that says spring has fully arrived like the Song Sparrows song.
With just a few leaves springing forth this Song Sparrow perches between singing their song.
Feeling at home where the landscape reclaims the roads.
A quiet place where impermanence is understood.
On the Prairies and Sagebrush plains of Colorado what will be, still is.
April, 2017
We watched and mostly listened as this male Sage Thrasher sang his long and complex song from the top a the sage brush on a quiet dirt road near Walden, CO.
According to All About Birds “males have long, complex, melodic songs, with remarkable variety. The rambling series of phrases, often preceded by soft clucking notes, is continuous and interspersed with moments of repetition and mimicry. Songs can be very long indeed; one male was recorded singing for 22 minutes straight.”
While this guys song was not a whopping 22 minutes it did go on and on leaving me out of breath just listening.
nature has no boss 
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