For the love of all wild things: On the way to work (i.e., from Ottawa to Colorado) and gettng there too early

2015/05/09

On the way to work (i.e., from Ottawa to Colorado) and gettng there too early

I was planning to blog much later into the field season than this, but poor weather conditions (with winter snowstorm warnings in effect) here in Gothic, Colorado have halted what I originally planned.

My research/driving partner and I left Ottawa on the morning of the 6th, and we rested overnight at Kalamazoo and Grand Island, just like last year. I didn't take many photos until we entered Colorado.

Can't remember if this was taken in Nebraska or Colorado. Landscape in the northeast corner of Colorado is similar to the bordering states.

Mountains! Definitely Colorado.

Last year, while driving through the mountains, the road suddenly leads to a pass that offers a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, we were not prepared for it and did not stop to take pictures. This year, I paid attention to the map and stopped to investigate this beautiful location.

The plaque reads: Spread before you lies the famous South Park. Entered by Kenosha Pass, elevation 10,000 feet. The Bayou Salado of early trappers. Favorite Indian hunting ground and frequent battleground. Visited by Z. M. Pike in 1806. Crossed by J. C. Fremont in 1844. Permanent settlement inaugurated by gold discoveries in 1859.

Kenosha Pass. See larger image here.

After that, the scenery was breathtaking.

Watch out for elks.

Poor weather ahead.

Tiny tree.

Colorful Colorado in early spring.

We arrived at Gothic after 8PM on the 8th. During the evening, snow began to fall, and by the following morning, the snow transformed Gothic into a winter wonderland.

Compare this to last year's photo taken on May 27th.

Gothic Mountain. This was last year on May 26th.

The townsite.

I tried to wander up to my site last year, but it was covered by snow too.

Panoramic view of Gothic Mountain. See larger image here.

Since I can't do my research, I walked around town photographing some of the wildlife.

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). Despite being the same species, it looks different from the other J. hyemalis that I had photographed.

Junco feeding on the ground.

All of the juncos are very skittish and keep their distances from me.

Crow walking around town.

I heard this sparrow singing from far away. I think this is a Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) but can't be certain.

On Gothic Mountain, I saw several crows chasing a hawk of some kind. Here is 100% crop of the image (the hawk is to the left of the center of the image).