Aspiring Photographer: Colorado Wildlife...Big Horn Sheep

One of the reasons I love living in Colorado, is because of all the wildlife you can see if you are paying attention. I say that you can see if you are paying attention because I don't know how many times we have been hiking and not paying attention and I'll hear something running off. I know a deer or elk was near, but never saw one.


I took these pictures of Big Horn Sheep just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Another common place I see them is on the side of I-70 as we drive up to go skiing.


Did you know that the bigger the curl of the horn, the older the sheep?


Have you ever seen two sheep charge each other and knock horns? On this lucky day, I got to witness it (I wish I was at a different angle and could have gotten more than a butt shot). I can't even begin to describe the sound of the horns hitting together...it is thunderously loud. It sounds like knocking two plates together and they don't break. They both must have had quite the headache after they worked out their issues!



If you enjoyed this post, check out some of the other shots I have taken of the Rocky Mountain Wildlife!

• Don't Chase the Animals

• Fall in the Rockies!

Chit Chat: Getting Ready for the Season Change

In case you didn't know, summer is officially over and it's now Fall. We spend Saturday up in Rocky Mountain National Park watching the elk bugle. This is an annual tradition for us (check out last years pictures here). This year we took a couple of Baby Boy's friends, so their parent could have a date night before their 3rd baby arrived in a few weeks. I didn't get too many good pictures because I was too busy entertaining 3 little boys.

Anyway, we had a great time. While the boys were climbing rocks, a bull elk walked by in the field below and bugled. Baby Boy decided to bugle back, which in some ways was quite humorous, but I also held my breath since depending on how the elk responded it could have been an accident waiting to happen! When we saw the second, bigger, bull elk, Baby Boy didn't just want to bugle back to it, he wanted to pet it or ride it...who knows what was going through his mind. Every time he thought we weren't watching, he'd try to make a break for it (Note to self...Don't let your baby ride pony's at the county fair until they are old enough to understand not all animals are tame). It truly is a good thing that Baby Boy's friends were well behaved and listened to our directions.




As we were driving down the mountain, I was thinking it won't be long before we start getting snow. We had the threat of snow last week one day, but the weather man was wrong. So now, I am scurrying around gathering supplies and building up my arsenal to entertain Baby Boy on days we are stuck inside.

So far we have crayons, finger paint, construction paper, glue. I'm not sure what else I'll get. I'm looking for suggestions. Baby Boy is almost 18 months old. What would you stock in your rainy day supply cabinet for an 18 month old? Leave a comment and let me know.

Aspiring Photographer: Fall in the Rockies

Fall is a beautiful time here in Colorado. At least once during the season, we try to get up to the mountains to see the the Elk while they're bugling (They do this during the rut...a.k.a. mating season).

Check out this little elk. He's sitting there chomping his grass so peacefully.

This Bull Elk was not the biggest one we saw this day, but he's pretty big.

A country road in the Rocky Mountains.

Aspen trees turning yellow. (It's photosynthesis, ya know?)

I call this on Aspen Sky. I love the gold leaves contrasted with the blue sky.

This is the traffic leaving Rocky Mountain National Part at Dusk.