Snowshoeing to Geocaches in Fox Run 1-24-15

Lots of fun snowshoeing around the modest hills of Fox Run park finding geocaches (even found a travel bug!)- great weather for it today.  About 2.5 miles (runtotal 11) but worth quite a bit more fitness-wise compared to walking.

Just enough snow for our plans.

Abert's squirrel

Microcache

Travel bug

big cache

and medium-sized caches too

Almaghre

Clear Springs Ranch 1-17-15

Walked a little over 6 miles (8.5 runtotal) from the parking lot on Loren Lane (I'm guessing named after Loren Whittemore north to the new fish passage and back (surprise - didn't know it was there, was heading for the Heron Rookery and it was just beyond it).  Got greeted by the ranch horse and dogs and the dogs accompanied us for half a mile or so before heading home.  No other visitors to the area the whole time we were there.  Beautiful day.

the old Sod House

Ferruginous Hawk

aptly named 'road'

Song Sparrow

Great Blue Heron rookery

Red-tailed Hawk at the rookery

Bald Eagle

Clear Springs Ranch fish passage - primarily for the Arkansas Darter

Hmm, not sure what?

These were about 9 ft. tall

Old moon - not too far from the sun, barely visible

old bridge

Fontaine qui bouille

curious dog

Seeing us off

FCNC Winter Bird Count 1-10-14

Birded area 3 primarily (Rice's pond area).  Best birds were Wilson's Snipe, Virginia Rail, Northern Pintail, and Canvasback.   Distance about 2-2.5 miles.

beautiful misty morning - lots of ice melting today

Wilson's Snipe

Pintail

Male Northern Harrier

Black Forest Christmas Bird Count 1-4-15

Sun Pillar 

Coyote pack

American Tree Sparrow

Rough-legged Hawk

Horned Larks

Icicles in Elbert

Hairy Woodpecker

Pikes Peak

Abert's Squirrel (through glass)

a birder's Christmas tree

Cassin's Finch