January Thaw

Finally, we got a nice January thaw.  The holiday season was pretty cold and snowy.  After that, I had ants in my pants to get out and go camping.  Plus, we got a new dog right before Christmas, Rocky, a smallish lab mix.  Just as cute as can be and really sweet, nice and pretty well behaved already.  He's not quite a year old.  Couldn't wait to take him camping.  Been wanting a camping dog for so long.  We found him through the Safe Harbor Lab Rescue.  Went to see him and just fell in love with him immediately.  Brought him home that day. He's quickly becoming a member of the family.

Anyway, two weeks ago we finally got a couple of nice days with temps in the 50's and 60's.  Rocky and I took off for Lake Pueblo State Park.  Had a great time.  Rocky adapted nicely.  He's a very easy going dog.  He took right to the camper and hopped right up into the bed I made for him.

As usual, a mockingbird was soon exploring our camp.  He was oblivious to Rocky who was most interested.  Sat up on the top of some cedars that made a nice windbreak for our campsite, and made raids down onto the picnic table.  Pueblo is about the northern most range of mocking birds along the front range of Colorado.  Don't know what there range is on the west slope.  Rocky seems very interested in birds.  He is fascinated with the geese, ducks, and crows and ravens down at the lake.  He likes to watch them fly overhead.  I think we'll get along just fine.

We took lots of walks down to the water and came upon this flock of wintering mountain bluebirds in some cottonwoods.  Got a couple of shots with the SX50.

Our second day in camp, Rocky finally settled down in the afternoon sun.  After a day and a half of constantly being on guard and at the limit of his tether, he settled down at my feet to take a snooze.  I carefully got up and went over and snapped a couple of shots of him.

There's been a bald eagle down at our lake for the last couple of days.  Seen it at the ice edge of the open holes eating on a couple of dead geese and duck carcasses.  This morning on our Sat. walk around the lake, there it was sitting in the top of a large cottonwood up by the playground.  I hadn't taken my camera as it was gray and overcast, but went back down after we got home and got a couple of shots of it.  Had attracted quite a crowd of folks watching and taking pics.  Just sat up there oblivious to the folks below.  I got a couple of shots, even though the lighting was very flat.  A day later, the eagle was out sitting on the ice fairly close to shore in bright sun.

Drove out to Barr Lake the other day.  Lots of birds out in some open pools, but too far out for any photos.  There were a couple of pintails in close and got a shot.

Finally, a shot of Rocky working on dismantling his Mr. Bill toy.  Rocky is very good at destruction of dog toys. We have to immediately take out any squeakers or noise makers as he can get those out and attempt to digest them in the first ten minutes.  I can't believe some of the stuff they put in dog toys.

Rocky and I might head out to Jackson Lake next week.  First of the week is supposed to sunny and warm.