Montrose to Ridgeway for jaw dropping scenery and life birds!

Our awesome host and bird guide Steve, did a fantastic job of connecting us with other locals and local hotspots.  A very special morning was at a cabin in a beautiful valley high above the town of Ridgeway.  All I know it was about 8 miles off of the main highway up Country Road 5.

The day was crispy, with sharp blue skies, not a speck of dust or airborne stuff – course at 10,000 feet one doesn’t expect it.  

 

The home we visited is an acquaintance of Steve’s who loves birds.  She’s set up her yard around her house with lots of feeders.  She goes through lots of sunflower seeds and seed!  The big draw was Brown-capped Rosy finches – about 160 of them, none of which I got an image. These bird return year after year.  She’s got several flocks of regulars including some Evening Grosbeaks and tons of fat, cheek filling chipmunks!  

 

The hillside upon which sits her spacious, yet compact, log house looks out over a green valley to Aspen and fir on two sides.  The morning sunlight backlighting the Aspens was gorgeous.  Even Tom took a few minutes off of birding to take in the surrounds.

On the way down from the mountain we spotted elk 

 

and the Sneffles Mountain range was spectacular with side lit sunshine and big puffy clouds.