We left Boulder early and drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Deer and elk warning
On the way, we stopped in a small park along the shores of Lake Estes in the city of Estes Park. Along the lake edge was a small group of vultures (or more correctly said... a venue of vultures, since they were on the ground. Had they been circling it would have been a kettle of vultures... just in case you were curious). Near them was a tiding, gulp, murder or charm of magpies. And in the lake was a raft, team or paddling of ducks on the water (had they been on land it would be a brace or badling, and in flight, a flock). Now you know.... even if you didn't want to.
Lake Estes
Evidence of elk
The Turkey Vulture (also known in some regions as the turkey buzzard) is the most widespread of the New World vultures. It is not related to the Old World vultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia but looks nearly identical because of convergent evolution.
Vultures are scavengers and feed almost exclusively on carrion. Unlike hawks, eagles or other birds of prey, they just eat what they find. Sometimes this might mean a very large animal which requires them to get their heads deep inside the body cavity. The lack of head feathers helps keep them cleaner from all the blood.
Finding something to eat...
... most likely one of these fish heads discarded by fishermen.
Their feet are flat, relatively weak, poorly adapted to grasping, and have relatively blunt talons.
An impressive wingspan
Magpies are members of the crow family.The Eurasian Magpie is one of the few animal species known to be able to recognize itself in a mirror.
The amount of squawking from the two dozen or so birds in the tree above was almost deafening!
Mallards are considered a dabbling duck, because they feed mainly by grazing or 'upending' on the water's surface, and only rarely by diving.
Driving through town, we saw an enormous elk just grazing by the side of the road. We turned around and stopped to take some pictures. Regan got out of the car for some closer shots while I kept the car running just in case. While most of the elk in town are fairly docile, they are still wild animals.
We entered the national park and stopped at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.
Located in the northern Front Range, Rocky Mountain National Park was created in 1915. It is split by the Continental Divide, creating a drier east side with heavily glaciated peaks and a lusher west side with deep forests. There are over 60 named peaks higher than 12,000 feet, and over one-fourth of the park resides above tree line.
The lighted red path (towards the upper right) is Trail Ridge Road which connects the two halves of the park. It is the highest continuous paved road in the US, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet and crossing the Continental Divide at Milner Pass.
The Arapaho speak Heenetiit, an Algonquian language. Blackfeet and Cheyenne are other Algonquian-speakers on the Plains, but their languages are quite different from Arapaho. The Ute speak Numic, of the Uto-Aztecan family of languages. Related dialects are spoken by the Comanches and Shoshones. The word Ute means "land of the sun" in their language. The state name of Utah was derived from this word as well.
We watched a 20 minute move in the park in an impressive theater.
The diverse and sometimes difficult job of the ranger
Tribute to U.S. Park Ranger Jeffrey Christensen who was killed in 2005 in a fall while patrolling the Mummy Range of the park
We began our drive up Trail Ridge Road, eventually leaving the forest and getting above treeline (which in Colorado is around 10,500 feet). We pulled off at the Tundra Communities Trailhead. There were many people clustered along the side of the road, so we decided to join them and see what all the fuss was about. It turned out to be a small herd of Bighorn Sheep... plus some marmots, pikas and ground squirrels. They were all quite close!
Heading up to higher elevation
Above treeline
The enormous poles lining the sides of the road are actually for the winter snow plows. Yes, the snow does get THAT high up here!
Parking at the Tundra Communities Trailhead
