Matthews-Reeser Bird Sanctuary

Linking up with Skywatch Friday  and Good Fences  and NF Winged


 These are all photos taken while doing some early morning birding along the Estes Lake trail..The trail also includes the Matthew-Reeser Bird Sanctuary.. I read some EBIRD reports before leaving home, I knew this place would be great for bird sightings..

 An Osprey sighted over the Estes Lake..

 The shot above and the one below are perfect for both my Good Fence and Skywatch  entries..

The trail is busy with walkers and bike riders..and birders..  

 For NF Winged: I am not sure but I thought the bird blending in with rocks above could be a Solitary Sandpiper..

 Another NF winged bird I was having trouble iding..My thoughts were a Wilson's Warbler only because I saw one nearby..

 I like this shot even though it is not clear, but the Mountain Chickadee in flight looks cool.. LOL, the focus on the pine cones and needles turned out..

Another shot for NF Winged..I call this shot above The Swallow Bush!  How many swallows can you find?You can click on the photo to make it bigger.

 A shot of the trail sky and our shadows..but at this time we had the trail to ourselves..

I took this shot in a wooded area near the trail, I like the view of the mountain and lake.. I had to watch my back, there was a bull elk resting behind me and a little off to my right..

I think this Elk was watching me watch the birds.. I was hoping dear hubby was keeping an eye on the Elk. Just in case he started moving towards me..

I do not think this duck was worrying about the Elk..

It was a pretty morning for our walk on the trail.  The sky was just beautiful. Above we are heading back to the visitor center parking and our car..More fences and more sky views!   I hope you enjoyed my photos from Estes Park, Colorado..

I hope you enjoyed my post and photos
To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and check more fence shots at Tex's Good Fences
and for anything that has wings check out NF Winged

Thanks to Tex @ The Run*A*Round Ranch for hosting Good Fences and to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday also thanks to Monica of NF Winged!   I wish everyone a safe and happy long weekend.

Saturday's Critters #43

Saturday's Critters #43

Happy weekend everyone! I am looking forward to seeing everyone's critters this week..I appreciate everyone who has linked up in the past and for those who are linking in on this week's critter party. I am sharing some more of my Colorado critters.. I hope you enjoy them..

The Pine Siskins are cute birds and easy to id with the yellow on the side of their wings and tails. I was tickled that our hotel in Estes Park had a line of these pine trees with all the pine cones at the top. The birds were loving the seeds from the cones. I could stand on our balcony and just snap away at anything that moved..HAHA.

A female Red Crossbill was a lifer for me.. We walked ( I was birding) a few mornings at the Matthews-Reeser Bird Sanctuary in Estes Park.  It was part of the trail that loops around the Estes Lake.

 

The female cow elk and the bull elk seen on the parking lot at Estes Lake.

A young elk or calf.. not too far from the adults.. I use my zoom lens on all photos. I am not getting close to or in the way of these wild animals.

I would say this man is too close, but did he know what was behind him.. The people were checking out the females and some young elk on the other side of the car..

The white car is our rental car, hubby laughed at me because I would not walk back to the car until the Elk moved away.  I was not getting close to him.

Picnic anyone?

I was told that this bird could be a lifer also, the female or juvenile Cassin's Finch.  They have a forked tail and the male has the raspberry color like the Purple Finches. It can be confusing with the Cassins's Finch, Pine Siskin's  and the square tipped tailed House Finches all being seen in the area. I may have some better photos of this bird, I have to look some more..

This post is just about the 2nd or 3rd day in Colorado and the Rocky Mtn Nat' Park.  LOL, so sit back and enjoy the show..more elk to come...


Thanks to Tex Theresa aka Tex, I was able to add this link up button and thanks to  Jennifer for creating my photo badge.

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An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you for linking up to the critter party. I also appreciate the visits, comments and the support of my blogging friends................... Have a happy weekend!


To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Please visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin. Also, sharing with Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting.