Summer isn’t giving up yet in Eleven Mile Canyon, or probably anywhere in the Colorado high country. Osprey and great blue heron, and even a bald eagle were enjoying the morning along the rich fishing waters of the South Platte River, and many took the time to stop and pose for our cameras on Friday.
Osprey are still very active in the canyon, although this weekend’s weather may convince them that it’s time to head south. Even though the adults may call it quits, for the season, this year’s crop of young ones will stick around longer, perfecting their fishing skills and strengthening their wings for the 4000 mile flight to South America for the winter.
Eagles migrate as well, but our local nesting pair will spend the winter near their nest. By December they will return to it as they begin preparing it for the next breeding season. When all the lakes and reservoirs are frozen over for the winter, they will fish in the only open water around, the South Platte River.
Blue herons are more unpredictable. If it doesn’t get too cold and they are finding plenty to eat, they might remain for the winter. If their water freezes over or food becomes scarce, they will fly south looking for safe open water. The shores of the South Platte are ice covered by a massive layer of ice in the winter, and entering the water can be quite treacherous. It’s not likely that herons will remain in Eleven Mile Canyon. Deer won’t come anywhere near that stretch of water in the wintertime.
Here are a few more pictures from our Friday outing. We were fortunate to be able to make an extended stay due to recent rains. Normally the fishermen roaring up and down the canyon in their trucks create such a dust cloud that good pictures are impossible. Wet ground held the dust down, and fishermen seemed to arrive late on this day.
Winter is fast approaching, and my book Storm Warning is filled with tips and tricks, along with dozens of images and entertaining stories, about how to photograph the Cold and snowy Colorado Rocky Mountain winter. You can order your copy from my Amazon author page by clickin the link here!
Steven W. Krull is a renowned photographer and author who has been photographing and writing of the beauty and wildlife of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for over two decades. Please visit his website at S.W. Krull Imaging to view his work, including thousands of prints for sale, stock images for commercial use, and his library of published books.
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Colorado Photographer / Author / Wildlife Advocate | Steven W. Krull 