Invasion Of Violet-Green Swallows

On this cool, cloudy morn along the Colorado Front Range, large flocks of violet-green swallows swirled higher upwardly the South Platte, strafing the river together with following ponds for insects.  Just equally many perched on nearby ability lines, resting inward the chilly drizzle.

Having wintered inward United Mexican US or Central America, these aerialists normally buy the farm inward in belatedly Apr or May, resting together with feeding on the Piedmont before heading into the foothills together with mountains.  There they volition nest inward tree cavities or stone crevices together with feast on a multifariousness of flight insects.  Throughout the summer, they are oft observed inward foothill canyons, feeding amongst white-throated swifts.

Damp, chilly weather forcefulness swallows to congregate along together with higher upwardly rivers or lakes, where their prey hovers over the relatively warm water.  I encountered most 850 violet-green swallows along a 1.5 mile stretch of the river this morning, joined yesteryear much smaller numbers of cliff, barn, tree together with rough-winged swallows which arrived before together with accept already dispersed along the Front Range. 

Macgillivray's Warbler

On my stroll through South Platte Park this morning, I was fortunate to come across a MacGillivray's warbler.  Not easily observed, this migrant favors riparian thickets on its agency from United Mexican States in addition to Central America to breeding grounds inwards the Western Mountains in addition to Pacific Northwest.  Indeed, I industrial plant life this morning's visitor inwards shrubs along the South Platte River in addition to would convey missed him altogether if I hadn't noticed stimulate of the foliage.

MacGillivray's warblers too nest inwards streamside thickets or dense understory, favoring novel increment woodlands; hither inwards Colorado, they are best industrial plant life betwixt elevations of 8500 in addition to 10,000 feet during the summertime months.  Like virtually warblers, they are insectivores, gleaning prey from the vegetation or straight from the ground.

Once considered to survive a subspecies of the mourning warbler, which breeds inwards Canada in addition to migrates through the cardinal in addition to eastern U.S., the birds are straight off classified every bit distinct species.  Regardless of his classification, today's visitor is probable to survive 1 of the in conclusion boundary migrants to boot the bucket through the Front Range urban corridor this year.

Colorado & Switzerland

Since I volition survive visiting Switzerland inwards the close future, I accept begun to report its geography in addition to noticed or thence pregnant similarities to Colorado.  Of course, they are both mountainous regions (the Rockies inwards Colorado in addition to the Alps in addition to Jura Mountains inwards Switzerland) in addition to that topography gives nascency to major river systems.

Here inwards Colorado, the mount corridor stretches due north to due south through the key purpose of the State in addition to likewise curves westward inwards Southwestern Colorado.  East of the Continental Divide the terrain is drained past times the North Platte, South Platte, Arkansas in addition to Rio Grande Rivers spell the massive Colorado River Watershed drains the Western Slope.  The North in addition to South Platte Rivers merge to driblet dead the Platte River inwards Nebraska (a major tributary of the Missouri), the Arkansas eventually enters the Lower Mississippi River in addition to the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of Mexico.  The Colorado nearly reaches the Sea of Cortez.

The Alps stretch across southern Switzerland spell the Jura Mountains ascent along its northwestern edge alongside France.  Between those ranges is the Switzerland Plateau, most of which drains ENE to the Rhine River Valley; a major European river, the Rhine flows northward to the North Sea.  Southwestern Switzerland is drained past times the Rhone, which flows WNW to Geneva (passing through Lac Leman or Lake Geneva en route) in addition to thence turns southward through Southern French Republic to accomplish the Mediterranean Sea.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 modest expanse of southern Switzerland drains into the Po River, which flows eastward through Northern Italy to the Adriatic Sea in addition to extreme southeastern Switzerland drains to the Danube, eventually reaching the Black Sea.  More on all of these geographic features inwards the weeks to come.

Treescapes

On my flying from Denver to Washington, DC, today, trees were a reliable indicator of the regional climates.  Across the semiarid High Plains, spotty groves of trees were observed along dry out current beds or surrounding farmhouses but were otherwise absent.  Farther east, the dark-green ribbon of the Platte River snaked across southern Nebraska, demonstrating a steady render of H2O for plains cottonwoods together with other riparian trees together with shrubs.

The riverine corridors thickened later on nosotros crossed the Missouri River (just S of Omaha) every bit the size together with pose out of the streams increased, fed past times abundant wet from the Gulf of Mexico.  After flying over the Illinois River at Peoria, trees diminished in 1 trial once again across the Glaciated Plain of key Illinois; in 1 trial a vast prairie, it is directly productive farmland, studded amongst air current farms.  Clouds obscured the landscape over nigh of Indiana together with Ohio and, when breaks inwards the overcast in conclusion returned, a bounding main of trees stretched below us, indicating that nosotros had reached the forests of the Appalachian Plateau.  In this geophysical province, trees must locomote cleared for homesteads together with cropfields are primarily express to the valley floors .

Descending through depression clouds to Dulles International Airport, nosotros followed the Potomac River downward from the Plateau together with across the relatively apartment landscape of the Piedmont.  The Washington Monument, good to our southeast, shimmered inwards sunlight every bit nosotros glided to a higher identify a mosaic of woods together with wetlands, broken past times pocket-size farms together with the sprawling suburbs of Northern Virginia.  Trees create simply fine inwards the relatively mild, humid climate of the Mid-Atlantic region.

Lac Leman

During our commencement calendar week inwards Switzerland, my married adult woman in addition to I volition move staying inwards Nyon, on the northward shore of Lac Leman, to a greater extent than usually known equally Lake Geneva throughout the English-speaking world.  Created past times glacial erosion during the final glaciation of the Pleistocene, this crescent shaped lake is ane of the largest inwards western Europe, 45 miles inwards length in addition to upwards to viii miles wide.

Near Nyon, the deeper Grand Lac share (to the due east in addition to southeast) gives agency to the Petit Lac, a shallower in addition to narrower department that extends westward to Geneva.  This latter share of Lac Leman was subjected to the series deposition of terminal moraines equally the glacier melted dorsum toward the Alps also equally sedimentation from glacial streams that entered from its northward in addition to south.  The Rhone River, directly rise from its residue mount glacier inwards the Alps, flows through Lac Leman in addition to and thus drains it through southern French Republic earlier entering the Mediterranean Sea.

This afternoon, nosotros enjoyed a spectacular sentiment of Lac Leman from the metropolis of Nyon.  Backed past times the Alps, the lake shimmered inwards the belatedly jump sunshine in addition to was studded alongside numerous sailboats.  Once threatened past times pollution, the lake has since recovered in addition to remains the natural gem of western Switzerland, sandwiched betwixt the Alps, to its south, in addition to the Jura Mountains to its north.

The Aare River

The Aare River, the longest river that lies totally inside Switzerland, rises close Grimsel Pass, inward the Bernese Alps as well as eventually empties into the Rhine River along the country's northeast edge alongside Germany.  Flowing to a greater extent than than 180 miles as well as draining a watershed that covers one-half of Switzerland, the Aare has been heavily dammed for both alluvion command as well as hydroelectric power; the 3 largest lakes along its shape are Lake Brienz, Lake Thun as well as Lac de Bienne.

While the Aare is possibly virtually famous for its gorge inward the Alps, it as well as its many tributaries are virtually frequently encountered during move across the key as well as eastern portions of the Swiss Plateau.  It flows through Bern, ane of Switzerland's major cities, as well as is a scenic treasure for many smaller towns along its course.

Today I visited Olten, a pleasant urban amount on the Aare River inward the Germanic part of northeastern Switzerland.  Sitting at the base of operations of the Jura Mountains as well as known for its Old Town shopping district, Olten has instruct a major railway as well as roadway hub, spurring its increment equally a tourist as well as convention destination. 

Edge Of The Alps

This morning, nosotros left Nyon as well as took a educate to Montreux, an upscale urban marrow close the due east halt of Lake Geneva that sits at the border of the Alps.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lakefront promenade, through what is known equally the Montreux Riviera, is adorned amongst a fabulous diverseness of Mediterranean plants as well as offers a spectacular sentiment of the Alps equally it winds along the lakeshore; a host of shops, cafes, monuments, line-fishing decks as well as parks business the walkway.

Home to an International Jazz Festival, Montreux is the quest at which Switzerland's educate network receive enters the Alps for those traveling eastward from Geneva.  From here, 1 tin follow the border of the Alps northeastward to Spiez, Interlaken as well as Luzern or caput into the midpoint of the Swiss Alps to view famous alpine destinations such equally Zermatt, Davos as well as St. Moritz.

Our excogitation for tomorrow is to accept the educate to Interlaken, which sits inwards the Aare River Valley betwixt Lake Brienz as well as Lake Thun.  More on that journeying as well as our adventures along the border of the Alps inwards the coming days. 

Three Alpine Valleys

Leaving Montreux this morning, our develop climbed the mount wall to its eastward as well as crossed a split upwards via a long tunnel.  Exiting that tunnel, nosotros were inwards the wide watershed of the Saane River (or Sarine River inwards French).  Descending along 1 of its tributaries, nosotros enjoyed fabulous views of the high Alps to our south.  At Montbovon, nosotros joined the principal channel of the Sanne as well as followed it upstream equally far equally Gstaad, which sits inwards a beautiful alpine valley.  The Saane itself flows NNW from this area, eventually passing through Fribourg as well as entering the Aare River northwest of Bern.  Of interest, the Saane (or Sarine) but about marks the edge betwixt the French as well as High German linguistic regions of Switzerland.

From Gstaad, the develop climbed northward, leaving the watershed of the Saane as well as entering that of the Simme River.  After dejeuner as well as a alter of trains inwards Zweisimmen, nosotros followed the Simme downwards to the wide Valley of the Aare River, were it joins the Kander River earlier entering Lake Thun, but westward of Spiez.

H5N1 brusk journeying upwards the Aare Valley brought us to Interlaken West, a resort town that sits due north of a high wall of peaks; with these is the famous Eiger, 13,026 feet inwards elevation.  Tomorrow, nosotros excogitation to ascend to higher terrain via a train, motorbus as well as cable machine to savor views of those mountains as well as of the Aare Valley far below.

Northeast To Lucerne

Leaving Interlaken East this morning, our develop paralleled the due north shore of Lake Brienz as well as thence continued eastward through a broad, scenic glacial valley.  At Meiringen, nosotros climbed northward to cross Brunig Pass as well as thence began a long, gradual descent to Lake Lucerne through the Sarner River Valley.  Lake Lucerne is too fed past times the Reuss River which drains the lake as well as continues northward through Lucerne, eventually merging amongst the Aare River earlier the latter enters the Rhine.

The metropolis of Lucerne (Luzern inwards German) sits along the northwest shore of Lake Lucerne as well as is bisected past times the Reuss River equally it flows northward from the lake.  Riverfront walks, lined amongst outdoor cafes as well as historic buildings, are connected past times a break of human foot bridges, including the Chapel Bridge, a wooden covered span that dates from 14th Century.  Lucerne's Old Town occupies the due north side of the river, extending upward to the master metropolis wall as well as its lookout towers; visitors tin post away climb 1 of those towers (as nosotros did today) for a spectacular persuasion of the city.

The northern Swiss Alps beckon across the southern horizon as well as nosotros volition furnish to those mountains afterwards a pair of days inwards Lucerne.  Urban walks, museums as well as a boat ride on Lake Lucerne volition occupy about of our fourth dimension inwards the city. 

Scenic Only Sedate: St. Moritz

Leaving Luzern this morning time nosotros caught a serial of trains to St. Moritz; en route, nosotros passed Lake Zurich together with Lake Walen earlier climbing southeastward through the Alps.  The runway stretch betwixt Chur together with St. Moritz, which crosses numerous bridges together with passes through 55 tunnels, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage railway.  St. Moritz itself sits inward the Inn River Valley, surrounded past times high peaks, together with stretches along the due north together with due west shores of St. Moritz Lake; scenic Lake Silvaplauna is a few miles upstream.

Though my personal expectations were that St. Moritz, a playground for the rich together with famous, would hold out a bustling resort town alongside numerous shops, cafes together with clubs, it is relatively devoid of those amenities together with proved to hold out a rather sedate goal inward early on June.  While historic hotels point the valley walls, many of the buildings are modern structures that are anything simply quaint; nosotros expected a Vail or Aspen similar atmosphere together with establish neither.  St. Moritz does cause got a casino simply nosotros create non programme to indulge.

On the other hand, numerous trails Pb along the lakes together with onto the mount slopes together with several cable cars whisk visitors to alpine vistas.  Indeed, tomorrow nosotros volition locomote to Bernina-Diavolezza, southeast of St. Moritz, together with volition accept a tram to an superlative of nearly 3000 meters.  More on that jeopardy inward my adjacent post.  

To Italy As Well As Back

As planned, nosotros took a develop to Bernina-Diavotezza this morn in addition to boarded a cable machine for a ridgetop vista; unfortunately, the atmospheric condition did non cooperate in addition to our views were express past times dense clouds.  We thence descended much before than planned in addition to made the fortunate determination to proceed southward to Tirano, simply across the border alongside Italy.

While Tirano offered a gustation of Italian life in addition to architecture, including a host of outdoor cafes, our journeying to in addition to from that  town was the highlight of our day.  On our agency south, nosotros climbed to a hold upward past times at Lago Blanco in addition to so began a long, winding descent through a wide glacial valley to Poschiavo in addition to its scenic lake; the latter is drained past times the Poschiavino River, which nosotros followed to Tirano.  This entire stretch of railroad, from St. Moritz to Tirano, is the southernmost department of the UNESCO World Heritage Railway, mentioned inwards yesterday's post.

Along our journeying nosotros crossed alpine tundra, passed remnant glaciers, hugged the border of sheer cliffs, observed magnificent waterfalls, injure through rich subalpine forests in addition to took inwards breathtaking views of deep glacial valleys in addition to the scenic towns that grace their floors.  Had the atmospheric condition been clear in addition to sunny this morn nosotros powerfulness non convey travelled to Tirano in addition to would convey missed approximately of the nearly spectacular alpine scenery inwards Switzerland.

The Glacier Limited To Zermatt

Yesterday, nosotros took The Glacier Express, Switzerland's premier prepare experience, from St. Moritz to Zermatt; en route, nosotros crossed 4 major watersheds in addition to enjoyed spectacular alpine scenery.

Leaving St. Moritz, nosotros climbed northward through the Inn River watershed (a tributary of the Danube) in addition to hence passed through a tunnel to larn inwards the vast watershed of the Rhine; i of Europe's major rivers, the Rhine eventually empties into the North Sea most Rotterdam.  In Switzerland, ii major branches, each amongst several large tributaries, merge to course of teaching the Rhine W of Chur; nosotros descended northward along its southern (or Posterior) fork to that junction in addition to hence climbed westward along its western (or Anterior) fork.  At Oberalppass, nosotros crossed into the watershed of the Reuss River, which flows northward to in addition to through Lucerne (or Luzern) earlier entering the Aare River.  Finally, roughly other long tunnel (the longest inwards the Alps) took us into the Upper Rhone Valley in addition to nosotros descended westward along that river to Visp; at that spot nosotros turned southward in addition to climbed along a Rhone tributary to Zermatt.

Unlike St. Moritz, Zermatt has proved to hold upwards a bustling town, amongst numerous hotel vans attain to recall visitors at the prepare station.  The downtown expanse is lined amongst shops, restaurants, bars in addition to outdoor cafes in addition to the Matterhorn looms to the southwest.  Today, nosotros took the cog railway to Gornergrat, on the alpine tundra to a higher house Zermatt; at that spot nosotros viewed the Matterhorn, the Gorner Glacier in addition to many other high peaks nether clear bluish skies.  On the agency back, nosotros exited the prepare most timberline in addition to endured a winding, half dozen mile hike downwards to our hotel; tomorrow nosotros volition sure enough pay for that decision. 

A Bird's-Eye Stance Of Eagle Bluffs

Returning to Colorado this morning, I flew out of Columbia Regional Airport, inwards key Missouri.  The plane took off to the due south as well as and therefore banked westward, crossing the Missouri River simply due south of Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.

Fortunately, I had a window spot on the correct side of the aircraft as well as was treated to a fabulous thought of that floodplain preserve, my favorite birding place inwards the Midwest (see Ding Darling of the Midwest).  While I convey oftentimes explored its many pools, channels, marshes as well as woodlands at the world level, I convey never observed them from above.

Indeed, I realized that my perspective matched that of migrant waterfowl, pelicans, cormorants as well as shorebirds equally they brand it from the due south each spring.  Though H2O levels are currently depression across the floodplain, the number of an ongoing drought, it was obvious why this refuge is a magnet for those migrants equally they go upwardly the Missouri Valley, on their means to northern breeding grounds.

The Smoky Hills Of Kansas

Yesterday, equally I flew from Missouri to Colorado, our road took us across the key latitudes of Kansas.  The depression forenoon Sun angle in addition to clear skies provided ideal weather condition for observing the topography below in addition to I got a practiced await at the Smoky Hills.

The Smoky Hills Province of the Great Plains stretches across north-central Kansas in addition to into south-central Nebraska.  It is characterized past times depression hills that convey been sculpted from Cretaceous bedrock past times the tributaries of the Smoky Hill, Saline, Solomon in addition to Republican Rivers (south to north).  That bedrock, deposited inside in addition to along a Cretaceous Sea that i time covered nearly of the Great Plains region, is comprised of iii bands: Dakota Sandstone, Greenhorn Limestone in addition to Niobrara Chalk (east to west).

Those who motility across Kansas on Interstate 70, cross the southern constituent of the Smoky Hills Province betwixt Salina in addition to Hays; there, simply about ridges of the Province are adorned amongst turbines of the massive Smoky Hills Wind Farm.  The High Plains border the Smoky Hills to the due west piece the Permian swath of the Flint Hills stretches due north to S to their east; the Smoky Hill River Valley demarcates the southern border of the Province.

Focused On Watersheds

While birds too birding are the subjects of most posts inwards this blog, I am personally most interested inwards ecosystems too inwards the landscapes that they occupy.  Landscapes are the products of geology, tectonic forces too erosion, the latter occurring primarily past times the activity of H2O or ice.  Terrestrial ecosystems reverberate the underlying geology too topography, the regional climate too the availability of H2O (in the plane of atmospheric precipitation or surface H2O brought inwards past times streams).

It is alongside this noesis that I focus on watersheds every bit I move close our province or the basis too fifty-fifty pay closed attending to them inside my abode cities.  Water, later on all, is both essential to life too the primary architect of natural landscapes.  Understanding the regional topography requires that nosotros know its subdivision watersheds, from the principal rivers to their smallest tributaries.

In the U.S., simply about States greatly assistance our endeavour past times using route signage to demarcate the watersheds (North Carolina too Tennessee come upwardly to mind) spell other States neglect to label all but their largest streams.  Others, similar Colorado, compulsively label passes, streams too elevations but are lax when it comes to watersheds.  The to a greater extent than nosotros empathize our natural landscapes too ecosystems, the to a greater extent than committed nosotros volition hold out to protecting them. 

Death On The River

Due to the hot, dry out weather condition (and primarily due to reduced H2O liberate from upstream reservoirs), the South Platte River was real depression this morning, attracting a multifariousness of waders in addition to shorebirds; amid these were groovy blueish herons, snowy egrets, black-crowned dark herons, killdeer in addition to spotted sandpipers.

While focusing inward on 1 of the groovy blues, I watched equally he of a abrupt jabbed into the tall riverside grass in addition to turned dorsum amongst a small-scale mammal inward his formidable bill; likewise large to hold upward a plain mouse, I suspect it was a meadow vole or a immature muskrat.  After dipping it the river to moisten the fur, the heron tilted his mouth skyward in addition to swallowed the victim inward a unmarried gulp; he in addition to thence resumed stalking the shallows for his side yesteryear side snack.

Though nosotros ofttimes sentry herons in addition to egrets inward wetlands in addition to along shorelines, feasting on small-scale fish or aquatic invertebrates, nosotros are undisturbed yesteryear their natural activity.  But when a large heron grabs a small-scale mammal in addition to swallows it whole, nosotros understand amongst the victim, a brute that, similar us, must accept about feel of what is happening.  We easily imagine the nature of its gruesome piece of job in addition to may fifty-fifty resent the heron's unfazed response.  Nature, on the other hand, is oblivious; she is neither judgmental nor sympathetic.

A Golden Morning

On this cool, breezy morning, I took a walk along the South Platte River earlier summertime estrus enveloped the Front Range.  Once again, depression H2O attracted a diverseness of herons in addition to egrets to the river shallows field cormorants fished inwards the deeper pools in addition to a host of swallows strafed the H2O surface for insects.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 solid unit of measurement of belted kingfishers lounged along a beaver pond in addition to black-billed magpies were peculiarly noisy in addition to abundant.  But the highlight of my walk was the presence of a golden eagle, perched inwards a tree along the river.

Not close equally mutual equally bald eagles in addition to ospreys along this stretch of the South Platte, golden eagles are to a greater extent than oftentimes observed inwards foothill canyons or close buttes in addition to mesas on the High Plains where they nest on stone ledges.  Nevertheless, they may survive encountered inwards rural areas of the Colorado Piedmont, hunting for prairie dogs, soil squirrels in addition to rabbits; these powerful raptors are also known to kill grouse, wild turkeys, fox, fawns in addition to immature pronghorns on occasion.  Unlike bald eagles, they produce non typically feed on carrion though they sometimes feast on dead deer or elk during the colder months.

Residents of the Northern Continents, golden eagles are primarily flora inwards the Western U.S.A. exactly may wander to the Eastern States inwards winter.  This morning's visitor, field far from rare, was an unexpected treat, peculiarly during the birding doldrums of summer.  

The Southern Bluish Ridge

This week, I started reading Cold Mountain, yesteryear Charles Frazier, around xx years afterward its initial publication.  This highly acclaimed new is develop inward the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains during the Civil War; much to my delight, it is accompanied yesteryear a map of that region, an expanse through which I accept travelled on many occasions.

Before getting likewise far into the novel, I decided to review the topography of the Southern Blue Ridge, alongside specific attending to its major rivers.  The mountains themselves stretch along the edge of Tennessee as well as North Carolina, extending into northwestern South Carolina as well as northern Georgia; their highest altitude is Mt. Mitchell (6684 ft.), inward North Carolina.  This swath of highlands is bordered yesteryear the Ridge as well as Valley Province, to its due north as well as west, as well as the Southeastern Piedmont to its due south as well as east.  The eastern department of the Southern Blue Ridge is drained yesteryear the Watauga River, flowing northward to the Holston River, as well as the Catawba River, flowing southward yesteryear Charlotte as well as and then through South Carolina.  The fundamental department (harboring Great Smoky Mountains National Park) is primarily drained yesteryear the French Broad River, which rises nearly the South Carolina edge as well as flows northward yesteryear Asheville, eventually merging alongside the Holston to variety out the Tennessee River due east of Knoxville; amid its major tributaries are the Pigeon as well as the Little Pigeon Rivers (Cold Mountain, 6030 ft., rises betwixt the East as well as West Forks of the Pigeon River).  Upper tributaries of the Savannah River drain the southern share of the fundamental department as well as the Little Tennessee River rises simply W of the French Broad headwaters, flowing northwestward to bring together the Tennessee downstream from Knoxville.

Finally, the western department of the Southern Blue Ridge is drained yesteryear the Hiwassee River, which flows WNW to bring together the Tennessee upstream of Chattanooga, as well as the upper tributaries of the Coosa as well as Chattahoochee Rivers, which menses southwestward through northern Georgia.  Now I tin read the new alongside a ameliorate agreement of its natural setting. 

Stopping Past Times Eagle Bluffs

During a brief remain inwards key Missouri, I took my oldest grandson downwards to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.  Though he is a novice birder, his attending bridge remains short, ensuring that our watch would endure relatively brief together with efficient.

Unfortunately, nosotros were greeted past times dense fog inwards the Missouri River Valley together with our initial leg through the refuge offered exclusively brief glimpses of the wildlife.  But, past times the fourth dimension nosotros turned dorsum at the due south halt of the floodplain preserve, the Sun had taken its terms on the haze together with nosotros were rewarded alongside a skillful diverseness of species.  Turkey vultures, bang-up bluish herons together with bang-up egrets were virtually abundant (if yous don't count the red-winged blackbirds together with indigo buntings) only nosotros also saw bald eagles, forest ducks, a double-crested cormorant, belted kingfishers together with a mix of shorebirds.  Highlights, novel to my grandson, were a twosome of American avocets together with a modest flock of blue-gray gnatcatchers.

While our watch was brusque together with the atmospheric condition was non ideal, a jeopardy to explore Eagle Bluffs is never declined past times this birder together with ii novel species for a budding naturalist were unexpected benefits.  Though I volition endure returning to Colorado inwards a few days, I'm already looking frontwards to my adjacent watch to this fabulous refuge, hopefully to grab the tiptop of the spill waterfowl migration.

A Sunset Flight

Last evening, my boy (a pilot) together with I took a flying across the Colorado Piedmont, S of Denver.  Leaving Centennial Airport an hr earlier sunset, nosotros headed westward to Chatfield Reservoir together with and therefore turned south, next the base of operations of the foothills.

Crossing over Roxborough State Park, adorned amongst scenic stone formations, nosotros could meet the prominent peaks that ascension along the South Platte River Canyon to our westward together with southwest.  Farther along, nosotros passed the craggy majority of Devil's Head together with continued upwards the Plum Creek Valley to the Palmer Divide.  Angling to the east, nosotros followed the Divide for a brusk distance, catching a sentiment of Monument together with Colorado Springs inwards the Fountain Creek Valley, off to our south.  After curving across the upper tributaries of Cherry Creek (which eventually joins the South Platte inwards downtown Denver), nosotros passed higher upwards the mesas together with buttes that characterize the scenic topography of the Castle Rock region.

As nosotros headed north, well-nigh Sedalia, the Sun educate behind the Front Range together with nosotros could meet the multiple ridges of foothills together with mountains that arrive at a stair-step landscape, leading to the Mt. Evans massif.  After taking it that spectacular view, nosotros headed dorsum to Centennial amongst a fresh appreciation for terrain that nosotros accept long known exclusively from the ground.