Hiking Near Broomfield

Although things were a little hectic in Broomfield on our visit, we did manage to get in a couple of walks and take advantage of the beautiful weather and observe a new ecosystem. Prairie dogs are common in Broomfield, but I was amazed how long these two held their pose for me

until I realized that there had to be another reason for the pose. Sure enough, a Red-Tailed Hawk circled overhead.

I also managed a nice shot of this Red-shafted/Yellow-shafted intergrade, an increasingly common cross between a Red-Shafted and Yellow-Shafted Flicker.

We got our longest, and toughest, walk/hike in the last day we were there, and I spent most of the day watching the girls/dogs/Tyson lead the way.

Despite some recent snow, the area reminded me a lot of Indian Heaven in early Fall with its palette of brightly colored foliage

and scattered trees,

though the distant rocks made it clear we were hiking just outside Boulder, Colorado,

part of the Rockies.