Terry & Diana's Photography and More

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Colorado July 2023

July 4

We left about 7:30 AM and headed for Decatur to drop off a box turtle for Madison. After visiting a little, we headed for Black Creek campground in LBJ National Grasslands. There were lots of people there. We wished we had found a dispersed camping spot, but stayed at the campground. Lots of fire works.

Black Creek Lake, LBJ National Grasslands

Checkered Setwing

July 5

Before leaving the area, I wanted to see if I could find a Texas Azure Bluet. We checked several ponds in the area and finally found one to photograph. We arrived at a RV park in Dumas around 7:30 PM for the night.

Halloween Pennant

Azure Bluet

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

July 6

We stopped at Great Sand Dunes National Recreation Area for one night. Diana and I walked around and photographed.

View of Sand Dunes from campground

Least Chipmunk

Opuntia polyacantha

Blue-eyed Darner

July 7

Before leaving the dunes, Terry took a few more photos on the way out. Stopped at Russell Lakes roadside park. Not much flying. Arrived at Eleven Mile Lake State Park at 1:30 PM. to meet with Becky's family for the start of their reunion. Most of Becky's bunch was there.

View of Sand Dunes from exit road.

Mule Deer

Southwest Prairie Lizard

Plains Forktail at Russell Lakes wetlands

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk

Eleven Mill Lake State Park

Eleven Mill Lake State Park. Behind the campground area.

July 8

One more day at Eleven Mile Lake State Park with Becky's family. Cold afternoon winds.

Eleven Mill Lake State Park campground area

White Pelican

California Gull

Pronghorn

July 9

Up early and went to Woodland Park for church at 10:30 AM. After services we ate out at Fortune Dragon Chinese food place. Got some supplies in town before driving to Fairplay to meet with Becky's family once again. Terry checked out a marshy area near the VRBO. Played games with the family. No photos of house or property just odes.

American Emerald

Emerald Spreadwing

Hudsonian Whiteface

Belted Whiteface

July 10

After a large breakfast, Diana and I left the family and headed for the Roosevelt National Forest and camped at Tunnel National Forest campground. A nice area with lots of beaver ponds along a creek.

Tunnel National Forest campground entrance in the Roosevelt National Forest

Tunnel National Forest campground

Beaver pond across from Tunnel National Forest campground

Beaver pond near Tunnel National Forest campground

Tunnel National Forest campground

July 11

We spent all day at Tunnel photographing odes, flowers, birds, and scenery,

Colorado Columbine

Bell Flower

Rufous Hummingbird

Four-spotted Skimmer

Boreal Whiteface (my first)

Taiga Bluet (My first)

July 12

After a few more photos, we went searching for Trapp Lake. We found the lake and it was what I was looking for as far as odes are concerned. We had a hard time finding a camping site for the night around Red Feather Lakes. All three camp grounds were full. We ended up at a dispersed camp site near there. Not too pretty but did hear Boreal Owls at dark.

Bald Eagle. On the way out from Tunnel.

Trapp Lake Road

Trapp Lake trail parking area.

Trapp Lake

Four-spotted Skimmer

Hudsonian Emerald (My first)

Lincoln's Sparrow

Bellaire Dispersed camping area.

July 13

Stopped at a market in town before heading out to Lost Lake on road 67J. Lost lake was all dispersed camping and there were several nice sites there with ponds along the road. Lost Lake was at the end of the road. We wished we had found this area earlier. Lots of photos.

Lost Lake, Larimer County

Lost Lake, Larimer County

Variable Darner

Chipmunk

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Plains Forktail Damselfly

Mule Deer (with trash bag on the rock)

Boreal Whiteface

Belted Whiteface

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing

Williamson's Sapsucker

July 14

I searched around Lost Lake one more time before heading for Becky's house in Greeley. We stopped in Loveland to eat and wash clothes.

Lost Lake dispersed camping area

Ringneck Duck

Blue-eyed Darner

American Emerald

Variable Darner

Belted Whiteface

Tragopogon dubius

July 15

We hiked to a park near Becky's. Visited awhile before heading southeast to Lamar, Colorado. We stayed at RV park in town.

Diana and Becky visiting one last time before we leave. City Park in Greeley.

Canada Goose

Northern Flicker

Bull Frog

Blue-eyed Darner

July 16

We visited a local church in Lamar. After the services, we headed to Springfield and ate lunch. From there we headed out to Carrizo Canyon campground and picnic area. We were the only ones there. A nice stream runs through the area.

Carrizo Canyon Picnic Area

Carrizo Canyon Picnic Area

Carrizo Canyon Picnic Area

Carrizo Canyon Picnic Area

Aztec Dancer

Checkered Whiptail

Southwestern Prairie Lizard

Flame Skimmer

Sulphur-tipped Clubtail

July 17

We then headed over to southwest Kansas and stayed at Cimmaron National grasslands campground and fishing ponds. Hot with lots of biting flies.

Cimmaron National grasslands fishing ponds in southwest Kansas

Blue-fronted Dancer

Variable Dancer

Black grasshopper (Boopedon nubilum)

Bullock's Oriole

Eastern Kingbird

Sulphur-tipped Clubtail

Blue-eyed Darner

American Toad

Sunset at Cimmaron Grasslands fishing ponds

July 18

On the way out this morning, we found a Bullsnake on the road. Stopped at Collinsworth Pioneer campground on Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River. Hot and dry.

Collinsworth Pioneer Park on US 83 over the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River

Double-striped Bluet

Common Sand Dragon

Robberfly with prey

Common Sand Dragon

Red-headed Woodpecker

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

July 19

We stopped at the cemetery in Wheeler to see my Lamberth grandparent's tombstone. Stayed at motel in McKinney.

July 20

Before heading home, we visited my brother, Max, in McKinney. Got home to Camp Wood at 8:15 PM.