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.
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!
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.
