Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR: May 2014

The Southwest Jeffco Camera Club planned an excursion to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge today. With nothing else on the docket, I was more than happy to join them. And Taryn even agreed to come along to get more fodder for her new Instagram account.

Tumbleweeds were in abundance.  Some other visitors thought it was a good idea to take one and put it on top of a ginormous anthill.  The ants disagreed.  I wouldn't be too surprised if they somehow found a way to move the thing.

I've seen some gorgeous bird shots from here lately on the Front Range Wildlife Photographers Facebook group.  Alas, I didn't get any truly stunning shots today.  Taryn and I spent a good chunk of time trying to get something decent of this one, which I'll also need the help of the FRWP group to identify.

Edit: Daniel Parsons and Luis Ramirez both pegged it as a Western Kingbird.  Thanks, guys!

A lone coyote ambled across the prairie.

Skies were pretty overcast, which made the landscape less vibrant than I would have liked.

Benefit of going with a group -- running into other members who point out nice shot opportunities, like this reflection off a still creek.

A rare moment with blue skies on the shores of Lake Ladora.

On our way out we drove by one of many prairie dog villages and saw a curious litter of young ones all scurry into a burrow.  So we turned the car around, parked, and waited for curiosity to take over.  Which it eventually did.

Three cars from our group were also parked by a tree with these two young Great Horned Owls right by the refuge entrance.  I learned years ago to always stop for a bear jam. :)

Despite the challenging light, we still spent about three hours meandering around.  And I think we made a lot of lemonade!