Moose and More

Ah! Spring!

Caty and I frequently go to Rocky Mountain National Park -- usually for the day because it is so close to her house. That's one of the many things I love about Colorado -- living near RMNP. 

For us, it's an annual tradition to drive over Trail Ridge Road as soon as it opens. So, we decided to spend the last weekend in May to visit and actually stay overnight at the Cascade Cottages - the only cabins within the park. You will remember I mentioned them in my previous blog about Owls. 

Our cabin

Pre-Visit

Caty had to work, so I decided to run up ahead of her and she would come after work. And, because I detest driving on the Interstate when there is beautiful scenery to be seen, I took the a longer route. 

My route

But, it's also a much more scenic route. 

It was - as it has been all spring -- a bit rainy, but hey, still worth the drive. 

On May 30, I headed north -- up I-25 to Castle Rock, then cut over on 85 to 6 to 119 to 72 to 7. The route passes through Golden, Blackhawk (casinos -- ICK!), Rollinsville, Nederland and Allenspark to Estes Park. 

I didn't take many pictures because it was such sketchy weather, but rest assured, the Colorado rockies are breathtaking. 

I stopped at Wild Basin, which is the southernmost entrance to RMNP -- and a place I'd never been. It's just a short road and a ranger station, but I picked up some hiking info and a desire to go back and do some hiking there. 

Not connected to the rest of the Park by road

The river was raging and had overflowed its banks - a theme that repeated itself many times over the weekend. 

Flooding

Although I saw no wildlife, it was exciting to see a list of recently sighted animals that included Moose -- yes, they are starting to settle on the east side of the Rockies!!! 

They had moved on; Photo from May

Right after I left Wild Basin, it started to rain, dashing my hopes for an afternoon hike. 

I checked into the cabin and called Caty to let her know there were flash flood warnings. 

The cabin - very cute and in a great location - is where the Great Horned Owl nest is. But, the cabin owners told me that the Owls had already fledged. 

And, then, the sun came out (rain/sun was another common theme). So, I headed out to explore -- driving into the park on the road to Trail Ridge. Imagine my surprise when I saw a Moose. On the east side!!! 

My first eastside Moose; you can bet I called Caty right away

This is very exciting, because we generally see Moose only on the west, which means that it is tough to see them before Trail Ridge opens for the season. I drove part of the way up Trail Ridge, but not to the top because I was saving that to do with Caty. 

The scenery on the way was breathtaking. With all the rain we've had, it was very green ... 

So pretty because of all the rain

... and a bit snowy higher up ... 

There can be snow any time of year

A lot of the beauty is the spring aspens, a gorgeous tree that grows throughout the U.S., but is heavily identified with Colorado.

This mountain will blaze yellow in the fall

The creeks were very high.

Water everywhere

Lots of Elk were gathering up in groups -- but I saw no babies the first night. 

A group of females

Then, back to the cabin to meet Caty. While I waited, I watched a Tom Turkey flirting with some hens. 

Literally shaking a tail feather

I took a little walk behind the cabin and was surprised at the beautiful (and raging) creek. Who knew it was back there??? 

I had never been there before

Fun with Caty

Once Caty arrived, we drove back into Estes Park for dinner. On the way, we saw our first baby Elk (moving fast) of the trip. 

Elk calves are usually hidden in the woods during the day

And, we stopped by the library to see if the Owls were still there (see my previous post). They were!!! But, another Owl-watcher said they had been flying about. So, I am sure this was one of the last chances to see them this year.

Our last visit with these lovelies

After dinner, we returned to the cabin and then remembered that we were planning to see Maleficent in town. So, we turned around and went back for opening night. There were only about four people (including a woman my age in costume!) in the theater. We enjoyed the show and then drove (carefully to avoid Elk) back for a great night's sleep.

The next morning we drove across Trail Ridge Road to look for Moose. Almost immediately, we saw a brand new just-born Elk with its mom in the woods. She was a pretty good mom, managing to keep the baby out of camera range no matter how hard we tried to get a shot. 

We think she had just given birth

Just a few sightings

And, then, the Moose hunt began. We go to the west side of RMNP every May (or June if snow keep Trail Ridge Road closed) to see these magnificent beasts.

Spring usually brings out lots of cows and calves. We sometimes see males. most often just outside the Park near Grand Lake.

We saw 16 - more in one day than Scott and I saw on our entire seven-week trip to Alaska! 

Among the sightings were  some of this year's calves ...

Such cuties

... a mom and baby playing kissy face ...

A great photo op

... and a brand new calf ...

Less than a day old

Plus, we saw another baby Elk ...

A better view than before

... and some male Elk ... 

Those antlers are just starting to get big

Then, back to the east side.

A nice view of the Park

We had a lovely dinner on the (slightly cool and windy) deck of the Gateway Restaurant at the Fall River Visitor Center. We headed to town to get some pie at a restaurant called "YOU NEED PIE," but a little traffic jam stopped us. 

Bears? Baby Elk (it's usually Elk)? Moose? No, a baby Red Fox that was posing beautifully on a woodpile in someone's yard.

Wow! What a find! I am glad we stopped

We shot lots of pictures and everyone left. 

This kit was posing and posing

When it was just Caty and me, the baby started getting a little agitated and then sprinted to the hill behind him, where his mother arrived with some food (we still haven't figured out what it was). But, baby was pretty excited. 

Something yummy (but what?)

And, the arrival of mom (who soon left again) ...

After feeding the baby, she took off

... brought out three additional kits ...

They missed dinner and the other photographers missed them

One last look

They came tumbling out of a cleft in the rocks above the yard where the wood pile was. It looked like the den was in a small cave.

It was getting late and the light was failing, so it was impossible to get good pictures of the kits.

The tumbled and pounced and played like a litter of kittens. 

We stayed until it was just too dark to see anything, much less take pictures.

We never got pie. 

Hiking

The next day, the weather was better, so we were (finally) able to hike -- to the Pool. 

Heading out

It wasn't the calm pool I have seen before - rather a rushing stream ... 

Yikes!

But, the day was sunny and the scenery was beautiful ...

Just a few vistas

... and, although wildlife was scare, we did see a cute little Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel ...

A little snack in the shade of a rock

A great day for a hike.

What a great place and it's so close

Trip Date: May 30-June 2, 2014

Owls!!!!

In May, I visited Caty with the express purpose of photographing Owls. The weekend did not disappoint. 

We started in Fort Collins, where we went to the cemetery to check out the nest there. The two "chicks" were out of the nest, but not yet flying. 

They were "branching," walking on branches before they can fly

Mom was watching from a tree across the way. 

Watchful parent

Then, we headed off for Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park to see two more nests there. We were pleasantly surprised to have a rare sighting of male Bighorn Sheep just outside Estes Park. The Bighorn is the symbol of RMNP, but in recent years we just don't see them. There were nine in the group we saw. 

Majestic

Continuing on into the Park, we were thrilled to see that the Great Horned Owls were still in the nest by the Cascade Cottages (just inside the Fall River entrance). 

The huge nest is in a big pine tree

Owls are so fascinating - and we spent a long time photographing them. Quite a few people also stopped to photograph. 

Left, a parent sits above the nest; right, fluffy, downy Owlets

It's a beautiful spot with good parking opportunities - and, for many, photographing these Owls is an annual activity. 

A Walk and on to Estes Park

We took a quick walk around Sprague Lake (we had heard there were Moose there, but didn't see any). It was windy, but lovely. 

Lots of snow still on the mountains

Then, back to Estes Park to check out the nest behind the municipal library in town. This nest is quite different because it is built into the side of a small cliff. 

The cliff is right behind the parking lot

Once again, no disappointment. Momma and babies were putting on a show ... 

Two fairly good-sized young 'uns

The Owlets looked like they were rapidly outgrowing the nest. They were stretching and vigorously flapping their wings, which were still sprouting feathers needed for flight.

The flapping indicated that the chicks would fledge soon, so we were glad we went. 

Even youngsters have a prodigious wingspan (tough in a tight spot)

When Mom tired of the antics, she flew to a cliff where she cold get some rest, but keep an eye on the babies. Dad, who was in a tree across the way, flew to the cliff and kept watch, as well. 

Left, mom; right, much more red-colored dad

Great Horned Owls

The "horns" are a give-away

The Great Horned Owl is the most common Owl in the Americas, recognizable because of the feather tufts on its head that look like horns. 

The third largest Owl in America (behind the Great Gray and the Snowy), Great Horned Owls are 18-24 inches tall, weigh from 2 to 5.5 lbs. and have a 3 to 5 foot wingspan. Like many raptors, females are larger than males. 

Their color can range from very light gray to dark orangy brown.

Great Horned Owls live from the Arctic to South America in woods, farmlands and neighborhoods. Northern Owls migrate in winter, but most live permanently in temperate areas. 

They nest in tree holes, stumps, caves or abandoned nests of other large birds. Monogamous pairs have one to five eggs (two is typical -- all three that we saw had two), both the male and female incubate, and the male also hunts for food.

 

There are two in the nest

Not all eggs are laid at the same time, so sometimes Owlets hatch at different times and are quite different in size. 

Owls are powerful and fiercely protective of their chicks. They have even been known to attack humans who wander too close to their young (surprising we didn't see any attacks!). 

Mom tending the Owlets (we didn't see them eat)

They hunt at night, striking from above and using their talons to kill and carry animals often several times heavier than themselves. They prey on a huge variety of creatures, including Raccoons, Rabbits, Squirrels, Skunks, Birds, Falcons and other Owls. 

These parents have also been known to bring in a housecat

They sometimes swallow their prey whole and later regurgitate pellets composed of bone, fur and the other unwanted parts of their meal. Or, they rip the prey apart. They feed their babies with the kill rather than regurgitating. 

They are silent in flight, but quite vocal - the females and males have different hoots. 

Begging or singing? Hard to tell

They live 5 to 15 years. 

As the light failed, we had a lovely Italian dinner at Mama Rose's and then returned to civilization. What a thrill to see such magnificent animals!!!

So cool

Trip Date: May 18-19, 2014