Edge of her world

21 03 2025

You might think this is a peaceful scene, but see the rocks just to Aiyanna’s right? That is the edge of the rimrock layer that forms the western boundary of Spring Creek Basin. See it out in the middle distance, basically above her head and neck? If we were over there, looking back this way, THAT’S what it looks just just to her right.

It was *ahhhhhhmazing* to be with the mustangs up there … and also my old-person brain was going “get away from that edge RIGHT NOW!”

Buckeye, who has been fearless all his life, had me especially sweating buckets as he grazed literally right along the edge looking north (this image basically is looking south).

But mustangs, as I’ve long believed, are closely related to bighorn sheep and mountain goats, and they really are very sure-footed and know *where they are*. That said, I’ve also blocked trails of theirs that are crumblingly close to the edges of arroyos as they shift and erode and disappear. I’m sure they don’t NEED my interference, but wowza, have a heart for a human’s delicate sensibilities. 🙂 (As a kid, *I* was the one being told to “get away from the edge RIGHT NOW.” … Now, it gives me the weak-legged willies to see children, dogs, horses at drop-off edges.)

And wow, is it gorgeous up there and *from* up there. 🙂





Blue-grey beauty

20 03 2025

In a certain kind of light, the southwestern pinon/juniper-treed ridges of farther Disappointment Valley go blue, providing the best background for a backlit grey beauty like Juniper.

******

In my haste to get a pic selected and processed and a post done and published, I completely forgot that today (grey, cloudy, 20F at 8 a.m.) is SPRING. The start of, anyway. 🙂

Happy spring to all lovers of growth and green – and the eternal hope that it will rain *enough*.





Preserving peace

19 03 2025

Another image that speaks to me of peace. Nothing “special” in and of itself as a photo … which IS the specialness because that’s so often to be found in Spring Creek Basin as not in many other places these days.

We protect the places and things we love, and I am fiercely in love with and protective of this land and these mustangs.





Ducks of a different feather

18 03 2025

This duck is an American wigeon and was with his presumed mate (below) on the same pond where I found the mallards in the previous post. I’m not sure whether they were the third pair I had seen earlier; when I took this pic and that of the female, I was on my way back past the pond after visiting with a band nearby. I didn’t quite realize they were different ducks (not mallards) until I saw the pix on the computer!

This is the female.

They’re both very handsome ducks, aren’t they? 🙂





Still flashy

17 03 2025

Our flashy Mr. Flash is pretty darn grey these days. His old pinto spots are really hard to see now, unless you’re fairly close.

What doesn’t change is his handsomeness. 🙂





Buckskin sunset

16 03 2025

Kestrel pauses atop an arroyo before dropping down and crossing before moseying up the far hill with the band to continue grazing.

Though most of yesterday was sunny, the wind kept it pretty chilly, and we had an unforecast wave of snow move through the valley yesterday that stuck half an inch or so before it melted right away. Those fuzzy coats still are necessary.





On the wander for evening water

15 03 2025

The temp dropped with the moisture Thursday night, and the wind didn’t relent, making the ponies’ still-fuzzy coats much appreciated, I’m sure. 🙂 This pond is one of two in the basin that currently have water, thank goodness.





Wild girl

14 03 2025

Dundee just looks so strong and fiercely wild here, doesn’t she?

I took this pic just about as the nearly full moon was rising over the basin’s northeastern horizon. It wasn’t that spectacular, really, but Dundee always is. 🙂

The lunar eclipse likely wasn’t visible from Southwest Colorado in the early morning hours because of cloudy skies. I’m not too upset; we did get a bit of moisture out of those clouds!





Mustang a’flying

13 03 2025

Photo critique: I wish I’d been lower for a better perspective as Mariah went racing past the mountains on the horizon. But I still love her expression and flying mane!





Water visitors

12 03 2025

I keep saying I’m not a bird photographer (I’m really not!), but birds keep finding their way in front of my viewfinder lately. Who am I to NOT try to photograph them?

These four mallard ducks (two drakes, two hens) were with another pair on one of two ponds in Spring Creek Basin that currently have water (which is in itself something special, given our dry conditions). They took off when I approached … and circled … then came back to land.

Super bummed that this shot is out of focus, just as one pair of ducks was landing on the water. But I love the position of their wings, and so I say it’s worth sharing.

This is another pair – landing flaps are down and ready!

Just about to touch down …

And splash landing! I caught the actual contact with the water, but the drake was blocking the hen, so I liked this image better. Watching them drop right over the pond and into the water is a lesson in flight dynamics, I’m sure! Not quite vertical, but it was a much steeper approach than I expected.

They (not necessarily these specific birds) are visitors every year … and every year, it surprises me that they’ve managed to find these spots of open water in the desert. Love having them. 🙂