Platte River, March 2026: Cranes in Flight

I have had some great times in the past shooting pictures of Sandhill Cranes, both in Colorado and New Mexico.  I've always heard that if I really want to see cranes on their northern migration, I needed to go to the Platte River in Nebraska.  My Spring Break this year coincided perfectly with the projections for peak migration, when roughly half a million cranes were expected to stop over along on an 80-mile stretch of the river.  So the time for my pilgrimage had finally arrived!

Scanning the skies regularly revealed small flocks heading to or returning from the fields.

As the sun set, silhouettes presented the best opportunities.

Silhouettes were again the main attraction shortly after sunrise the next morning...

...until golden hour began in full, when warm sunlight bathed the birds flying to the fields.

I enjoyed looking for both interesting formations...

...and solo flyers.

The higher the sun rose in the sky, the more important angles became so the undersides of my subjects weren't entirely in shadow.

A crane facing the sun and angled upward was an absolute win. 

I loved both the chaos of some groups...

...and the sublime synchronization of others.

One thing I've learned over my years of photographing birds in flight is that I always wish my lens was bigger and faster.  But then I get home and process my shots, and realize that my trusty Nikkor 80-400 zoom still does just fine. :)

More to come!

Related Links:

• Monte Vista Crane Festival 2013
• Bosque del Apache NWR (2016)
• Bosque del Apache Cranes & Geese (2016)
• Bosque del Apache, December 2020: Sunrise
• Bosque del Apache, December 2020: Afternoon
• Bosque del Apache, December 2020: Evening

Gateway Mesa Open Space, March 2026

I hadn't plan to go for a hike Monday morning.  But the combination of fresh snow on Sunday, conditions favorable to a pretty sunrise, and the day off for spring break proved too powerful to resist.  Gateway Mesa Open Space is within 20 minutes of my home, and seemed like it would have good views to the east.  So that's where I found myself at first light yesterday!

I was honestly a little concerned when I started out on the trail.  Power lines, fences, buildings -- all in line of sight wherever I looked.  Then I hit the top of the mesa, and things got MUCH better.

I got there not a moment too soon.  The sun was fast approaching the horizon when I found these two trees.

Honestly, not sure I could have found a better spot even if I'd had more time to look.  They frame the rising sun perfectly, and with a nice amount of snow still remaining in the scene.

The low winter sun cast perfect golden light on other trees, as well.

I had NO idea the trail was a sort of Angels Landing Starter Kit, with steep rock steps and chains to aid in climbing them.  But the icicles seemed to really like the sheer cliff face.

Speaking of icicles, I love shooting them.  I haven't gotten an icicle photo I'm in love with yet, but I don't hate this one.

When the trail wound around the west side of the mesa, the trees and the snow both grew thicker.  If it wasn't for the sound of traffic on nearby Colorado 86, you'd swear you were deep in Rocky Mountain National Park.

I'd read there was an abandoned pickup along the trail.  I hadn't read that it was upside down.  I imagine there's an interesting story involved.

Rocky Passage is slightly misnamed, since there's a tiny sign at the far end that says not to climb it.  So, technically not a passage.

Regaining the top of the mesa found the sun not shining brightly through thin winter clouds, but not yet strong enough to melt the snow.

I covered the 2.91 miles in a very leisurely 2:35.  Frequent photo stops and an icy path will do that.  But an unexpectedly wonderful start to any day, let alone a Monday!

Rocky Mountain National Park, February 2026

My hike in Florissant last week was nice, but I needed more.  More wildlife, more scenery, and most importantly more snow!  So with a reluctant sigh I jumped into the car before 6 a.m. last Saturday for the drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park.  The plan: Hike to Emerald Lake.

It was nice to see a trio of big bull elk grazing on the side of Bear Lake Road on my drive in.  They were trying to graze, but I'm not sure how much success they were having.

The wind was already blowing pretty fiercely at Bear Lake.  The rangers confirmed it was even stronger up the trail -- 30 to 40 miles per hour -- and that making it to Emerald was unlikely.

This poor beer didn't make it.  Looked like the pressure got to it.

It did have a nice view for its final moments, though.

I love the views on the trail between Nymph Lake and Dream Lake -- scenic and sweeping.

As I'd been warned, conditions at Dream Lake were miserable.  The winds weren't just strong and constant, they were blowing directly in my face.  The effect felt like being sandblasted on my exposed skin.  Just like my attempt a little more than four years earlier, this is where I unfortunately turned around.  I didn't feel comfortable setting up my tripod and DSLR, but I at last had enough charge to get a shot with my phone.

The trail leading back to Nymph Lake again offered a spectacular view.

Icicles along the trail provided a striking scene.

And in a tree next to the icicles, a very chill Steller's Jay.  Probably hoping for a handout, but whatever the case he posed nicely.

Since I was well ahead of my planned schedule I stopped at Glacier Gorge and trekked out to Alberta Falls, which was too snow-covered to offer a particularly memorable shot.

Saw another grazing Wapiti near Sheep Lakes, who graced me with a mildly curious look.

Stopped at the Fall River Visitor Center to get my passport stamped, and took one last snap of this Black-Billed Magpie.

I got my wildlife and snow, so I'm calling the visit a success!

Related Links:

• Rocky Mountain National Park, January 2024
• Rocky Mountain National Park, December 2021
• Ouzel Falls Trail, December 2019
• Grand Lake and More, January 2019
• RMNP: Colorado River Trail
• RMNP Sunrise: December 2017
• RMNP: December 2015
• RMNP: December 2014, Part I
• RMNP: December 2014, Part II
• Timberline Falls
• Mills Lake
• Alberta Falls Plus
• Emerald Lake (Part I)
• Emerald Lake (Part II)

Florissant Loop

No school on Presidents' Day, so I wanted to get out and hike.  I also wanted to find snow, since it's been a pretty warm and dry winter here in Castle Rock.

I went out to Florissant and got 1 1/2 out of 2.  I hiked, and there wasn't no snow.  Just not an abundance of the white stuff.

The hike was almost over before it even started.  I'd read that the Visitor Center at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument would be closed today, but I didn't realize that also meant gate to the entry road would be closed and chained.  Undeterred, I drove a little further and parked at the Hornbek Homestead where I re-evaluated the trail situation.  Fortunately, most of the trails interconnect.  So I picked up the Florissant Loop there.

Like my only previous visit, there was a lot of scat on the trail.  There's clearly plenty of wildlife in the area -- hoofed stock and predators alike.  I just have so far only seen their poop.

The big attraction here are the petrified stumps.  I didn't make it to "The Big Stump" on this visit -- it isn't close to the loop trail.  But it was quite cool to see a living tree growing out of a petrified one.

Not sure what caught my eye exactly about this pine cone on the trail.  But I do like the glistening of the snow.

Speaking of snow, I hit a section of trail that was legitimately wintry!  I guess it's shaded enough not to melt off.  I enjoyed it.

Besides the petrified stumps, this rock formation is another highlight of the Florissant Loop.  As in, it's labeled on AllTrails.  And it is pretty striking.

After the rock formation the trail was pretty gentle as it meandered through a rolling meadow back to the homestead.  Probably really colorful when the wildflowers are in bloom, too.

At the homestead I was captivated by the textures and subtle colors on this old wagon wheel.

Just under eight miles in just under three hours, with the fast pace primarily due to not stopping for many photos.  I'm not done looking for snow-covered scenery this season, though!

Related Links:

• Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
• Twin Rock Trail

Backyard Beauty, January 2026

A frigid January day meant a likelihood of more feathered friends visiting our backyard.  So I made sure our typical buffet was laid out, set up a camp chair, and waited to see who showed up.

Turned out my presence in a camp chair made our potential guests uncomfortable.  Black-billed Magpies were the first to overcome their fears and come for some chow.

House Finches aren't afraid of anything.  They came next, and in numbers.

Some of them are especially fond of this little feeder that Danelle's pottery mentor made.

But the finches' favorite is still the tube feeder of safflower seeds.  I actually filled it twice today!

The Northern Flickers were, as usual, the most reluctant.  Eventually one came to the tray, but kept a wary eye on his surroundings.

The Dark-eyed Juncos swept the snow for whatever fell from the feeders, then sunned themselves on the fenceposts.

One final friendly Flicker on the fence (alliteration FTW!), and I'd seen enough for one morning.  So great to live where wildlife comes to you!

Related Links:

• Regency at Montaine, January 2024
• Regency at Montaine, February 2024
• Montaine Heron Rookery, May 2024
• Backyard Beauty, November 2024

Festival Park: January 2026

The lack of snow in Colorado this winter has been well-documented.  When we finally got just enough in Castle Rock to give everything a thin coat, I decided to use it to shoot the holiday lights in Festival Park.

Even at the early hour, the snow wasn't completely unbroken.  Who walks through Festival Park before 7 a.m. on a holiday Monday?

The town does a nice job with its decorations, with some added twinkles from stars in the predawn sky and frigid snowflakes on the ground.

The blue is an interesting color choice for the holidays.  But it's unique, and it works.

I don't think I've ever shot a police station before.  But I've never seen a station this pretty, either.

This oversized chair is a fairly recent addition to the downtown landscape, but a delightfully quirky one.

The sun was rising, and I was running out of time.  But I did manage to get a shot with the Castle Rock in it before the light and traffic picked up.

One last look to the west as the sky continued to lighten, and my time was done.  But I'm glad I got to see the lights in a proper context!