Vega...

With my library pass hanging on the rear view I made my way toward Vega State Park, ( A Spanish word meaning....a large plain or valley, typically a fertile and grassy one) I went there last year for a look around and really wanted to camp there.  My sis made the suggestion I take the lesser traveled Collbran/Silt road and so happy that she did that it was such a highlight!! 

On the way there CR 331 takes me through some pretty ranch and farm lands and that means (my favorite) fence post birding and that is never disappointing!  

rare to get a snipe right out in the open like this

And just 4 posts down...

                                                     a tail fanning western meadowlark

Then I take the turn onto 330 East.  It's a dirt road that travels 40 miles through the White River National Forest, I saw quite a few wildflowers finally starting to show...I love dandelions and so do bees.  

FS 330 East Gulch Road

                         had a warbling vireo singing and hiding in one of these white blossom shrubs

                                              Big Chiming Bells,,,,so appropriately named.

And  Tall Larkspur 

Which is said to be poisonous to cattle...

And this unlucky soul is memorialized here...follow the link on her name to read the sad story. 

Courtni Bieser 1986-2010

Stopped here at the almost halfway point to let Casey out for a stretch and had one myself...

A who knows the name of this lovely yellow flower, some kind of sunflower?

  I arrive at Vega State Park to find the lake level is down compared to my visit here last year. 

...and not as many birds around either...saw a few tho and enjoyed every single one...like this what I originally called a Mottled duck I just stopped looking once I saw the black at the gape of the bill, I should have not taken that for granted as the reviewer on ebird pointed me to the rear of the bird and the white and black which makes this a Mallard/Mexican Hybrid...okay even better! 

And a fine looking duck he is too!  Had him a summer fling going on...

There was plenty of open sites in all except the Electric Loop so I tried out a few and settled on this spot on up on the hill where the wind was not hitting directly it had picked up considerably...white caps even.  When I took my afternoon siesta it was so relaxing with the awesome lake view and the peace and quiet. 

Across the lake the Aspen Trees are really leafing out..and it sure makes the hillside nice...

That Osprey nest is occupied, glad to say.  

Before we called it a day we took a few more photos of the lake..and a little drive around...

I picked up the Dusky Flycatcher here a horrid record shot didn't matter!  Why does my camera always not focus when it's so important?

  That was my 2nd lifer since my arrival in CO this spring, (with the 3 Baird's Sandpipers a couple weeks ago)...had lots of Mountain Bluebird and White Crowned Sparrows in the trees.  (a quick edit here...this is the dark lore sub species of the white crowned, and the beak is a more maroon color than yellow I have only recently learned this as I am not so much into the "science" of birds but since I came west more and more on the Colorado Ebird Rare list this one makes the list.  So I guess it matters)   

in the woods edge, some mule eared deer...

one in a hurry crosses the road...while this Marmot has taken up an outpost position on the top of an abandoned and collapsed shack... 

How's the view from there?

Red-Tailed Hawk

Then this stream ran right across the road so I turned back....a 4 x 4 like my old 1984 Bronco II would have come in handy here...if I had't traded it back in 1997.  Somethings we really should hold onto never know when you will wish you had it!

We rolled into our spot  for good, we had a great view.. 

 That was about the end of our day....

In the morning we had a really pretty sunrise

Breakfast done and we were ready to explore...Casey is getting old he can't go on hikes any more... so after his walk I put him in the cool shade, and he took his after breakfast nap while I took a hike on the lake trail.   

SO many Yellow Warblers, Yellow-Rumped Warblers of Audubon and Myrtle subs and more White Crowned Sparrows and lots of Broad Tailed Hummers trrrrrrrrrillllling and zooming around.  Had one trying to feed off my red plaid shirt too close for a photo...then looking up at this wire I spotted a Black Chinned.

Puffed up against the morning chill...

the filtered light was so pretty...

HELLO...I think he was warming up 

 a woods serenade...

 a solo performed by the Green Tailed Towhee! Enjoy.

after lunch we headed to The Grand Mesa over 10,000 ft...up next. 

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

A Sunday Drive

We drove about 14 miles out to the Rifle Falls, and Rifle Recreation Area.  

There is NO handicapped access to the falls so I found a good shady spot to park, mom and the dogs waited while I hiked the short distance uphill to view the falls.  It is not a steep hill, but it's beyond Mom's ability.  The falls are as pretty as I recall, I do think there is more lush green foliage around them now.

There's a hike to the top but I knew Mom would not stay put if I stayed away too long so no hike was done.

Rifle Falls is 3 good sized falls all falling off the same ridge...It really throws out a mist.   So some rainbow effect shows up...

                       

...and all this time I thought these black edges on the upper part of my photos was my hat...but I was not wearing a hat when these photos were taken,,,,so it means my camera is having an issue...eeeeekkkkk. And I've noticed a couple other issues with it...so I am going to have to replace my camera...I go through a camera about every 2 yrs!  That is why I can't get into expensive cameras that I have to worry about tossing it around like I do.  Hope it will continue to work.   

We took the scenic route (kind of an oxymoron because every route is scenic) back to civilization and came across a huge herd of sheep.  I don't know sheep so I have no idea what breed this is...

this is Rifle Gap area...

Spotted these 2 birds of prey along the roadside...the American Kestrel, a female. 

 a Red Shouldered Hawk  in the cedar...

This is called Harvey Gap Reservoir the water is such a lovely turquoise color...I'd love to take my tube down there and float...the water is Freezing!! It looks warm and inviting but when I stuck my foot in....OHHHH it was cold.

back down in the valley it was hazy...

and later at home we had some lark sparrow's give us a visit...

and the Ash throated Flycatcher is teaching a young one to hunt...

We visited SIS, and at her window  pair of Eurasian collared doves stopped by for a visit...

When I took the dogs out the other morning, the deer were in the front this time....his shadow is really cool don't you think?

then they disappeared over the ridge...

We had a nice rain overnight and in the morning the clouds gave us a nice sunrise...we are still on Eastern time so we're up at sunrise every morning...

Being here is Mother and Casey approved! 

Tuesday I had the opportunity to take a day trip to Vega State Park! I got my 399th lifer, soooo stay tuned for that!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.