What a day

We drove to the top of Independence Pass and spent some time on the tundra. A twelve thousand foot start, for our hike across the grassy rolling fields to higher and higher ridges. A slow pace to accommodate the altitude. We watched for birds. Judy kept counting the different kinds of wildflowers, but countless times lost track and started over. Snowfields and collapsing cornices. We stayed on the trail. Judy stopped in her tracks pointing to a spot in the grass and flowers next to us. It was a baby bird that scurried off the trail just before she stepped on it. The bird turned invisible two feet away, and didn’t move. If you look away you lose it and it’s really hard to find again. We tried to figure out what kind of baby it was. I was hoping maybe white-tailed ptarmigan with a defense of holding perfectly still, just like its parents. We looked all around for the pack of adults. We walked fifty feet away, sat down, and waited for mom to come to the rescue. Finally, a horned lark flew in. Baby jumped up and off they ran through the grass together. We say we’re birding, but really we’re just out there soaking up whatever happens.

Horned larks, white crowned sparrow, american pipits. It was a good day.