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Sunday, July 14, 2019
Sterne Park, July 2019
I've climbed a 14er each of the past three summers during our visit to Colorado -- Grays & Torreys in 2016, Elbert in 2017, and Evans in 2018. The plan this year was to climb Sherman, but I unfortunately woke up sick that morning. So I texted my apologies to my companions and went back to bed; no point trying something that arduous at less than full strength. Instead, I made a return trip to Sterne Park later that day. Very little distance, and almost no elevation gain to speak of. :)
Technically, I started at the War Memorial Rose Garden across the street. Just long enough to snap some shots of the bees in the blooms, and was rewarded with this.
My hope in going to Sterne Park was for Wood Ducks, which I've shot here successfully several times in the past. Sure enough, I spotted a mother and baby relatively soon after arriving. The mother never did bring the little one very close to shore, so my effort isn't as sharp as I'd like. But it was still a cute moment.
Another lady coasted by much closer, and I got a great view of her iridescent wings.
She had a few older juveniles with her, and was giving them free rein to wander a little further around the pond.
Elsewhere in the pond, I saw the smallest Red-Eared Slider ever. He was probably no more than three inches long. Adorable!
Common Green Darners doing what dragonflies do.
The male Wood Duck I saw didn't have the full head plumage I'm accustomed to seeing. I don't know if that means he's a juvenile, or if it simply had to do with the season. I do like the multiple reflections of his head in this shot.
He seemed to be pretty focused on finding a handout, which I did not have for him.
On past visit I'd seen that the birds are quite fond of crabapples. Maybe next time.
Canada Geese are pretty much omnipresent, but that doesn't mean that they're not sometimes worth shooting.
I like pictures of preening. The tufts of feathers and water droplets on the beak add nice detail.
Before getting in the water, it's always a good idea to stretch. Nice to see these youngsters learning that at an early age.
Did I mention I like pictures of preening?
Pretty stoic for a young one.
More of that wonderful iridescence in the female wing feathers, and I figured I'd seen most everything there was to see. And I didn't have to climb 14,000 feet to see it!
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