Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Verging on summer

7 06 2025

Seneca and her band were just on the north side of Spring Creek canyon. You can see the continuation of some of that rimrock right behind her. It made a nice frame for her wild loveliness.

*****

We got TREMENDOUS rain this past week. For this old curmudgeon and pessimist (with regard to forecast rain that doesn’t actually end up falling; I’m actually mostly fairly optimistic), it was the loveliest of grey, soggy, rainy weeks (but this is Colorado, so you know we also had abundant sunshine throughout – and of course, at least one rainbow!). The total between Monday and Friday accrued to 1.15 inches of rain!!!!!!! Total since Dec. 1: 3.03. So that’s more than a THIRD of our entire moisture total (I’m talking about moisture from snow, too) since the beginning of the winter. Yes, we’re dry. Yes, we just got a wonderful, amazing, fabulous, marvelous, fan-freaking-tastic amount of moisture. 🙂

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Comments : 8 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Spring Creek canyon

Mustang in flight

6 06 2025

Buckeye’s mares were super bothered when I climbed a hill recently to find them in clearing fog/low clouds (gone *poof* by the time I puffed and huffed my way up to where they were), and I thought it might be because they weren’t used to seeing me in the mornings (most often, I’m out in the evenings, and they are most definitely creatures of habit (even others’, perhaps!)).

But when second and third cattle semis appeared, heading south waaaaaaaay off to the west, and the horses ALL focused their complete attention on those long silver moving rectangles, I realized that the first semi that had passed – within my view at the time but NOT within view, only sound, of the horses – was what had set them off.

BLM’s resource management plan for this area closed Spring Creek Basin to livestock grazing … gosh, has it been 10 years now? There haven’t been cattle grazing in the basin since the winter of 2010-11. This IS, however, the season of cattle moving from lower winter and spring grazing to the higher, cooler country of summer grazing on other BLM land (outside/beyond Spring Creek Basin) and San Juan National Forest.

The big semis do have a loud rumble as they motor up the gravel road heading up-Disappointment Valley alongside the basin’s southern boundary. … And crazily, those big moving boxes MOOOOO as they go! 🙂

Comments : 6 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Pony gold ‘n treasure

5 06 2025

Think shooting rainbows is all, well, rainbows and unicorns?

Those “unicorns” have minds of their own that don’t often consider “posing” for two-leggeds to be part of any kind of their wild plan whatsoever.

I’m still on the hunt for what I consider a *perfect* (OK, even somewhat close) mustangs-under-the-rainbow shot. 🙂

Tenaz helped a bunch. Thanks, buddy. 🙂

Oh, and although it was NOT raining over Spring Creek Basin whatsoever anywhere (it was either virga or far up-valley beyond the basin’s boundaries) when we had the rainbow (as usual, which, I know, seems odd and unusual, except here (!?!), where it’s completely and totally normal), the rain came with sunset. 😉

We’re dancin’ a little bit with a lotta joy!

Comments : 13 Comments »

Categories : McKenna Peak, Rain, Rainbow, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Temple Butte

Spiny beauty

4 06 2025

You already know that I’m going to say that these flowers – such delicate beauty surrounded by such fierce thorns! – are one of my favorite signs of spring. 🙂 Even as temps soar into the lower 90s (argh).

Comments : 11 Comments »

Categories : Prickly pear cactus, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Wild flowers

Speedies

3 06 2025

This handsome pronghorn buck and his ladies have been in and around Spring Creek Basin lately. I haven’t seen any fawns yet, but they’re either hidden out of sight, or they’re almost ready to make their entrance to the world!

Comments : 15 Comments »

Categories : Pronghorn, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Wildlife

LBJ with Bia

2 06 2025

Did you spot the LBJ right away? Or are you wondering why I posted an out-of-focus pic of Bia this morning? 🙂

These little birds are still following the horses along as they graze, apparently because they scatter bugs/insects that the birds then gobble right up. A win-win for the birds. And the horses don’t seem to mind them whatsoever.

Here’s what Google AI has to say when you inquire what kinds of birds might follow horses as they graze:

The small, brown birds that often follow horses and other grazing animals are likely Brown-headed Cowbirds. They are known for their association with livestock, benefiting from the insects that are stirred up by the animals’ movements.

Here’s why they’re so commonly seen with horses:

Diet: Brown-headed Cowbirds primarily eat seeds and grains, but they also consume a significant amount of insects. Grazing livestock, like horses, disturb the ground, bringing insects to the surface, making them easier for the birds to catch.

Brood Parasitism:

Brown-headed Cowbirds are brood parasites, meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, and those other birds raise their chicks. While not directly related to their association with horses, this behavior is a notable feature of their lifecycle.

Habitat:

Brown-headed Cowbirds are found in grasslands, prairies, and other open habitats where livestock graze, making them common companions of horses [and mustangs].

But while the pic that accompanies the above information looks just like the bird I saw with Bia, this link to “brown-headed cowbirds” doesn’t look like it at all. However, this link, which uses the same pic that accompanies the AI description, after a long description and comparison to various other, similar birds, calls it a juvenile brown-headed cowbird, and it does look like the LBJ accompanying Bia. 🙂

Comments : 11 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Wild birds

Juniper spa

1 06 2025

Lovelies and lovely friends Juniper and Mysterium apparently have been enjoying a spa day, along with the other members of their band.

Lovely girls in lovely light.

Comments : 10 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Momentary

31 05 2025

You have to be quick on the draw to snap a pic of Mr. Corazon looking up; he’s not one for worrying about humans when there’s grass to be grazed. Handsome little guy.

Comments : 12 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Seeking

30 05 2025

Having trotted past part of the band, Skywalker turns his attention to the horses that have already dropped down into the drainage ahead and are grazing their way up the other side.

He looks pretty studly, there, doesn’t he? Outlined in lovely light against the hills across Spring Creek Basin that form part of Disappointment Valley’s southwestern boundary.

Comments : 6 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Morning beauty

29 05 2025

Pretty Gaia is still lean but looks sleek and shiny in her summer copper-gold in the first light of morning.

Comments : 6 Comments »

Categories : McKenna Peak, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs