The Grand Mesa takes us up over 10,000 ft...the van was straining to make it up the grade so I took my time. This is my first visit up there this time of year so I was surprised to see a lot of unmelted snow laying about.
I had hoped it was fully open but it wasn't the Visitors Center still closed with dirty snow banks surrounding it...but nature is never closed! I enjoyed stopping to view the lakes that I could get to...like this overlook of Island Lake.
Looks as if lots of snowmobiles zoomed over the lake this past winter...
I stopped at Cobbett Lake above, for a lunch break and was immediately joined by this Steller's Jay, he jumped right down to let me know he wanted some of what I had,
so I shared some chips with him...
And a little Gray Headed Dark Eyed Junco also came to see what he could scavenge from my visit.
This drop of water got on the lens of the camera it really made an interesting orb on this photo...
There is no bad view here....
The hiking trails are still quite muddy so I didn't go far...I brought one pair of hikers with me!
Ward Lake Campground was not officially open, but was open with no services and FREE!.
.So I was glad to find a good spot to spend the rest of the day and night.
.So I was glad to find a good spot to spend the rest of the day and night.
Had a nice conversation with a local logger who was camped nearby, he told me about the beetle problem that is killing many of the trees here. The mature trees fall victim to the Pine Beetle and the Spruce Beetle along with Bark Beetle, the first infestations occurred in 1996, now more than 1.1 Million acres are infested.
We got the attention of a Gray Jay...not just one but 3 of them! (now they call them Canada Jay)
nicknamed the "camp robber" one jumped right in my frying pan when I was camped up in the Olympic National Forest in Washington.
and more Stellers' to challenge them, but guess who won the big battle??
American Robins!! I have never seen Robins be aggressive but they sure were!
It was cool and later after a walk Casey and I went into out cozy home away from home for an afternoon siesta and right about that time I saw a flash of gold...and low and behold
The female Pine Grosbeak! Lifer and that's about the time a flash of red smacked me...the bright beautiful male Pine Grosbeak!
#440
I have been wishing for this bird on every trip to high country. And they came right to me, poked around a while; the female looks to be gathering some nesting material.
A text book example of this species...
Later some nice light hit the trees across the lake...
and not much later the sun began to go down...we had a meal and called it a day...
And it got COLD we had frost on our tub of camp "stuff" when we got up...while I made coffee Casey tried to warm up...
...and another visitor eyed our camp...
he tries to look nonchalant, but I see what he is up to...
Ok little buddy time for your breakfast...or someone else may get it...
A Mohawk sporting White Crowned Sparrow (dark lored) gave us a backwards glance...
And when we packed up we drove over to Land's End road it is still closed, so I took a short walk it was too muddy to enjoy but I saw about 12 American Pipits
I saw my first Pipit right here in this area last year....so I'd saw this is a reliable spot to find them.
Before you know it it was time to drive down off the Mesa and we exited to the South, at Cedaredge.
And another visit to the Fruitgrower's Reservoir North Causeway in Orchard City...I'm going to split this day up
so that will be next!
so that will be next!
PEACE
Every day is a new Adventure.
