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Tag Archives: aspens

Birdsong and Wildflowers

The girls and I enjoyed a slow walk this week. It was slow because there were so many wildflowers and so many birdsongs to listen to. I think Sky appreciated the slowness of the walk. Sometimes, she laid down by my side when I stopped to make a photo or listen to the birds.

Some of the birds we heard (most were not seen) included: Lazuli Bunting, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Warbling and Cassin’s Vireos, Townsend’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Downy Woodpecker, Purple Finch, Song Sparrow, Mountain Chickadee, Pine Siskin, and many others. I should have kept a list.

Finding Color in the Landscape

This month, most days have been gray with occasional snow. There is barely enough snow for the groomed trails and I have yet to ski. The girls and I try to get out often on foot but this winter, much of the public land is closed to people and dogs in hopes of bringing back the mule deer herd. So space is limited. We were lucky to find one short trail with no one else on it a couple days ago. The beaver pond is much larger than the last time I visited the area.

The day started with a bit of sunshine but by the time we got out, it was gray. Again. We just need to make the best of it.

Scenes From a November Walk

Sky was off on her own adventure so Willow and I shared some lovely walks last weekend.

Missing October

Heavy wet snow mixed with rain is falling as I write this. Not the kind of fluffy stuff that brings joy but cold and very wet and sure to melt soon. November.

My last campground in California was aptly named Aspen. We were past the peak of fall colors but it was still quite beautiful. A creek ran by our campsite (Willow was ecstatic) and then along the edge of a big meadow. At sunset, the girls and I took a long walk along the creek and I managed to capture a few images.

Evening Walk

Sometimes we were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people out looking at fall colors, stopping in the middle of the road, walking without noticing cars coming and going. It seemed like every pretty place with aspens had people everywhere like ants at an anthill. One evening we found a nice, quiet place to walk in aspens along a creek just as the sun went down.