Well, this was my first autumn season in Colorado … and already it’s not exactly a “normal” one. Seems that they leaves didn’t get the memo that they were supposed to be changing already. Sure, the aspens might have started, but they sure have a long way to go.
It’s OK because that means there’s more time for the wildlife to forage on the nutritious environment, which will be available to them longer.
Even the birds seem to be enjoying the mild autumn.
So one day in October, we headed up to the San Juan Mountains for some fall colors … hopefully anyways. On our way we stopped outside of Ridgway and met up with a few friendly birds.
Mountain bluebirds have become a favorite “new” bird of mine. So very pretty, a bit social (at least to me), and such a beautiful calls they make. They migrate vertically, which means migrate down in elevation from the higher mountains to the lower valley areas when winter comes. They dine primarily on insects and hunt from overhead for them.
Western bluebirds are also a new one for me to have in my neighboring area. They are declining in population, or at least are threatened to, by nest competition from the starlings. So beautiful.
Finally, in the upper elevations, we see the fall colors starting to emerge. Usually it begins with the aspen leaves changing to a golden color.
Orange and burnt orange colors are next to appear.
As we reach the higher elevations, the fall color explosion begins to really emerge. When I got to this point on our drive, I requested that the car be stopped so that I can get out and see it more clearly. THIS is one of the reasons that I wanted to move to Colorado!
Every turn in the road was virtual eye candy in the landscape and left me hungry for what was around the next corner.
This area is well know to those John Wayne fans out there, as the area was featured in his movies. Cathedral Peak in the San Juan Mountains outside the town of Ridgway.
Just when I don’t believe that it can get much nicer, another vantage point yields this … incredible beauty, with an explosion of fall colors and varied landscapes and trees, with those unmistakeable San Juan Mountains in the distance. My heart skips a beat.
Yes, it was such a magical day out there, so it only seems appropriate to end this blog post with a rainbow … actually a double one … it was just that beautiful!
Next Up: Let’s go to Utah!
© 2017 TNWA Photography / Debbie Tubridy