Larimer County Driving Tour

Mid-day isn't the best time for birding but it will do when it's your day off, you wanted to sleep in, and you only have a few more days in a wonderful state.  I started with a quick stop at Dixon Reservoir to scan for ducks.  Easily picking up Cackling and Canada Geese and Common Goldeneye.

Next was a pull-off at Horsetooth Reservoir with a few more additions in American Kestrel and Red-tailed Hawk flyovers.

I love Bellevue and drove by for one more look as I headed up Rist Canyon.

The finale of the evening would be a easy drive down Poudre River Canyon.

The sun was out and the frozen river was melting.  It was such a beautiful day and a gift from Colorado before I fly to New York.

The dogs even got a little walk around Picnic Rock which they enjoyed more than you can tell from this funny photo.  Daisy never understands why I have to take photos when all she wants to do is get to some unseen destination.

It was the perfect day to drive about Larimer County.  I picked up two lifers, enjoyed the sunshine, and had some quality time with my pups.  I'm going to miss this place.

American Dipper

Finally the elusive American Dipper was bagged!  In celebration of completing my Master's I took the pups on a little drive down Poudre Canyon on Friday.  I've been searching for a dipper for over a year now but it finally all fell together.  I just took a chance at skimming the rocks as I slowly drove by the river and right after passing Mishawaka I saw the little dip jump off a rock.

The perfect place to see a dipper since a parking lot was literally 5 feet in reverse which I did despite the danger because of my overwhelming joy. A quick hop across the road and I was face to face with a nemesis bird.

You can see why the bird is easy to miss in the photo above due to it's uncanny ability to just turn into a rock.

This little fellow was perfect and gave me a show for about 15 minutes before flying downriver.  I watched it feed, swim, hop and bob.  The best part was I had it all to myself on a beautiful, sunny Colorado day.

Thanks little American Dipper with your rolly-polly body, your funny walk, and your feeding show on the Poudre River.  You made my day!

Cache la Poudre

The Cache La Poudre is a beautiful sight and luckily we live even closer to it now.  On Saturday we took an afternoon swim at Picnic Rock and on Sunday we drove down the canyon and made a brief stop at the Ouzel Picnic area to walk the pups by the banks.  

Emily walked up on a snake by the bank, while I scanned the rocks for a Dipper.  We didn't stay long but our brief stay was made better for the calming sounds and smells of a mountain river.

As we walked the little public trail by the parking lot we came upon a makeshift memorial.  After a little inspection we realized it was made for the two young people that died this spring in the river.  We were coming back from the Western Slope this Memorial Day when we saw the steady stream of emergency vehicles.  A young boy fell in the river while fishing and his young uncle jumped in after to save him but neither made it.  The river gives and it takes. 

We were certainly given many gifts this weekend by the Cache La Poudre. I miss the ocean, the steady waves, the salt air, the breeze but a walk by the Poudre is close to recreating this experience.  I love the chill in the air, the crispness, the sounds of the river, and of course the beauty that abounds all around the banks.  

Tunnel Love

Emily and I love driving up the Poudre River canyon and this little tunnel always brings delight.  On our recent trip we stopped and admired the construction, the little tunnel by the river.

It seems like a postcard the way this tunnel is carved out of the mountainside.  We watched as cars and campers drove through.  It's not a big tunnel but it's a scenic one.

The Poudre River runs wide beside the tunnel and it gives a perfect view.  If you ever want to cross Colorado from east to west I would suggest going through Fort Collins and following the Poudre River to Cameron Pass.  You won't regret it!

Mountain Cows

As you drive up the Poudre River canyon you drive over a cattle guard but I've never seen any cows...until now.  On our recent leaf peeping trip up the canyon I was beyond excited to see my first mountain cows.  The terrain up the canyon is pretty rugged but these cows were grazing the sides of the road near the river.  I am sure they use many of the highways and trails as a means of transportation.  I can't imagine they move over the more rough mountain goat like peaks but I don't know anything about mountain cows, except they do exist!

Thank you big, black, bovines for showing up on our little drive up the canyon.  You remind me of South Carolina farmland, you remind me of home.

Leaf Peeping the Poudre

One of the best parts about moving to Colorado is the change of seasons.  In Florida, there is summer and spring, and if we were lucky, we had a couple of weeks of "winter."  But here in Colorado, it's been a beautiful autumn full of cool nights, warm days, and leave a'changing!

Emily and I decided to check out the colors up the Poudre River Canyon a couple of weeks ago and we found it at peek yellow.  The riverbanks were golden and the rocky cliffs and evergreen trees provided a nice contrast.

This was right before the government shutdown ended so many of our favorite spots were closed but it didn't stop people from parking at the gates and walking in.  It was a great way to visit some spots that are usually over-crowded with campers. 

We encountered fishermen, families, and couples like ourselves with our pooches.  Unlike most, we kept Daisy on a leash to make sure she stayed out of trouble.  

Autumn so far is proving to be pretty magical in Colorado.  I can't wait to see what all the seasons have in store for me to experience.

When we got back into Fort Collins, the scenery continued to pop with yellows.  The city is full of trees and they are all turning right now.  The one little detail I haven't had to deal with in over a decade is what to do with all the leaves.  I have a yard full and I'm not quite sure where to put them all but they are beautiful.  Any experienced people out there, please tell a former South Florida resident how to dispose of those beautiful leaves after they have run the course.  I am not ashamed to admit I don't have much of a clue about leaves or snow or ice.  I guess that's what happens when you take a Southeastern beach girl and put her near the Rocky Mountains.