Arches National Park: Park Avenue viewpoint

 

One of the first stops when you get into Arches National Park in Utah is a canyon called Park Avenue. Really cool location and only about a mile hike to the opposite end of the canyon and not too steep for once on one of these national park hikes. This is a formation at the entrance of the canyon and you take some stairs down, from where I am standing in the parking lot, but all in all, not a difficult hike at all and lots of amazing views. Check out the blog post from May 10th for a nice shot of Park Avenue. 

That's one black canyon

 

You can definitely see how the Black Canyon of the Gunnison got its name. Those rocks were dark and still covered in snow back when we visited last April. We didn't get to see too much as only the road up to the visitors center was open. Beyond that, roads were still closed from the snow that fell the night before we arrived. Still, my buddy Bill and I got to get a feel for the place, which was quite different in color and in the age of the rocks, from the colors of the older rock formations seen in Utah and western Colorado. These hills were newer sharper and more jagged. No hike down to the bottom for us, but that would have been a difficult hike back up in any case. Glad we got to visit. Hope to go back there one day to see more. 

Back to flying over the city

 

My second post-pandemic trip to NYC last month got me a window seat as we flew over the city. Always amazed how close we want to live to each other. Why do we do that? FOMO? You want to be where the action is, I guess. Anyway, used a filter just for fun to give a colorful vibe to the city. 

Common? Not so much!!!

 

I think that this bird has been insulted as he is called the Common Yellowthroat. First of all, I hadn't seen one until this year--so how common can they be? Plus, this is a beautiful bird and therefore deserves a better name. But, for now, until I start a campaign to change it, Common Yellowthroat it is. 

Henslow's Sparrow Singing for his supper

 

My first Henslow's Sparrow found on a nature walk in Springbrook Praire Forest Reserve, Naperville. 

Nine Visitors

 

Worked outside yesterday and kept my eye on the feeder and the nearby flowers. Got at least 9 different species visiting the yard, including a somewhat rare visits by both a Blue Jay and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, along with very common visitors like the Mourning Dove, House Sparrow, Downey Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, a bright red Northern Cardinal, House Finches (male and female) and the wonderful bright yellow American Goldfinch (who will start to lose their bright colors soon for fall and winter). The male House Finch has a spot of red on his upper breast and head in the top right picture. The female in the same shot has her back to us and plain colored. The House Sparrow is in the top left shot with the Mourning Dove with his back to us up on top of the feeder. The middle shot on top has the woodpecker hiding there and the Nuthatch. I assume you know which is the Cardinal and which is the Blue Jay. Hard to get those wrong. Having these visitors come by makes working outside a perfect day. 

Blue-winged Teals

 

The Blue Angels think they are all that. These Blue-winged Teals have their formation down pat. From a trip to Fort DeSota Beach, Florida back in the fall of 2021.