We waited two weeks for the weather. But today the prediction for Loveland Pass was for sun and little wind. We wanted to see White-tailed Ptarmigan in the winter plumage, knowing well that all except their eyes blend in with the snow.

We had seen them in their summer plumage in July, when we went “Back to the High Country.” We went to country just as high today, but couldn’t find them.

Sharon drove me and my SUV an hour and one-half to Loveland Pass, which is just 10 feet shy of 12,000 feet. As cold as it was at that high elevation, we were dressed for the occasion.

Sharon Shot this Photo of Me with my Backup Camera, my Canon 50D

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We drove on past the summit and looked carefully with our binoculars for the ptarmigan at several places near the road that winds down to Keystone. Instead, we saw plenty of snow and some beautiful mountains.

The Gore Range

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Mountain Curves

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But we found birds on the drive back to Boulder. We stopped near Morrison at the Red Rocks Trading Post. Hundreds if not thousands of birds were there to feast at the feeders.

A House Sparrow

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A Black-capped Chickadee

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A Dark-eyed Junco

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A Western Scrub-Jay

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We didn’t find what we sought. But we found what we needed. Nature.