Aspen birding in summer : Independence Pass and Carbondale
When: August 2019 Weather: cool 20C
Leica M10P 35 summilux, Nikon P900, Sony RX10 mk 4
We took a day drive leaving Aspen in the early morning planning to drive on the 82East through the Independence Pass, see Twin Lakes and then return by the I70 via Glenwood Springs. The road up to the pass was not too difficult to drive with only one or two areas where it narrowed a bit….
our rental car coped with the road well
the 82 East headed up the mountain
Eventually getting to the Continental Divide at Independence Pass
calm lakes and snow capped peaks even in summer….unfortunately we were unable to spot any white tailed ptarmigans
the curvy road we drove on
a short walk at the pass
A friendly marmot
song sparrow?
white crowned sparrow
white crowned sparrow
male and female white crowned sparrow
Horned goats
Horned goats
descending the mountain, we arrived at Twin Lakes
Thick billed magpie at Twin lakes
Magpie
Driving on through Leadville which is an old town, we stopped for some shopping and lunch at Silverthorn and started on our backward loop to the I70 westbound towards Vail and Glenwood Springs….the road was good and we arrived back on the 82 at Glenwood springs about an hour and a half later. We went to Carbondale to see if we could see some moose in the early evening…
Carbondale Road….no moose but the birding was good!
a blue flash alighted on the post and flew all around us from post to wire to road….
the beautifully coloured mountain bluebird
Mountain bluebird male
Mountain bluebird male
female mountain bluebird with a hint of blue in the vent area
Female bluebird
A lone turkey vulture posed
as did a red tailed hawk
red tailed hawk in flight
beautiful surrounds
Mountain bluebird rufous morph; Thanks for Rebecca Weiss for help in ID
the beautiful red glow of the colorado mountains…hence the name colorado
An interesting drive all in, with reasonable sightings in Carbondale Road but not really much in at the top of Independence pass.
The Natural Traveller 