Birding and wildflower watching continues to delight. July is prime wildflower time and the colors and kinds are endless.

We've had some serendipitous bird sightings. Found a pair of Three Toed Woodpeckers in RMNP that was a first. Very easy to identify--not by number of toes but by the yellow crown instead of expected red woodpecker color. The Broadtailed hummingbirds and their freight train loud flight buzzing (well, maybe a bit of an exaggeration) is unmistakable. And the Rufous are coming thru already after their short summer in the northwest. I borrowed this picture so you could see their brilliant color.

We've had our eyes open on every hike where there was moving water looking for the American Dipper but didn't find them until just this past week. These little song-birds-that-think-they-are-water-birds love fast moving water and actually walk underwater to pick off tiny crustaceans and water bugs. We watched a Mom feed a sassy fledgling tasty morsels one day. The babe, who was as big as Mom sat on a rock screaming and fluttering his wings impatiently scolding Mom to hurry up and feed me. . .ok, now bring me more!! Later we came upon another nervous mom tending young in a nest built under a bridge.

This Red Napped Sapsucker stayed long enough for me to get a good photo.

Surprised by a Belted Kingfisher nest in a mud bank over a river, listened to the plaintive song of the White Crowned Sparrow on the tundra, a pair of nesting Sand Hill Cranes in RMNP in breeding plumage, the orioles in Nebraska, the Horned Larks at 12,000ft, the Great Crested Flycatcher at DeSoto Bend. . .lots of good birding.