Early Spring Birding in Rocky Mountain National Park

‍ ‍Searching for Mountain Bluebirds in Colorado’s Unusual Winter

We heard a rumor from a reliable source that Mountain Bluebirds had already been spotted in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was only March, which seemed unusually early for their return, but this had already been a very strange winter in Colorado.

The season had been warmer and drier than normal, not only around the Loveland and Fort Collins area but also high in the mountains. Snowpack levels were extremely low, and many areas of the park looked more like early spring than late winter. Given the unusual conditions, it seemed entirely possible that the bluebirds might be arriving ahead of schedule.

More importantly, it gave us the perfect excuse to head back into the mountains.

We had not spent nearly enough time in the high country this winter, so we packed up our cameras and drove west through the beautiful Big Thompson Canyon, hoping against hope that we might catch sight of a Mountain Bluebird.

Wild Turkeys at the Fluvial Fan

Our first stop was the restroom area near the second parking lot at the Fluvial Fan, a location where we often find a surprising variety of bird species.

Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating. Winds were gusting close to 50 mph, and while we could hear plenty of bird activity hidden in the trees and brush, very little was willing to venture out into the open where we could photograph it.

Except for the turkeys.

Wild Trukey’s Posing in RMNP

On the east side parking area near the Fluvial Fan, several wild tom turkeys were busy competing for the attention of a few hens. In the process, they struck some wonderfully dramatic and photogenic poses. We ended up spending far more time there than expected, laughing and photographing their antics while the wind whipped through the area.

Monique even had the chance to demonstrate some of her surprisingly convincing turkey calls. If you want to hear them for yourself, be sure to check out the video from this trip.

Moraine Park and Blowing Snow

Next, we continued on to one of our favorite locations in the park: Moraine Park. Over the years, it has been one of our more reliable places to spot Mountain Bluebirds.

This time, however, the conditions were simply too harsh. The wind and cold made it unlikely that many birds would be active at all. Even so, Moraine Park still offered its own kind of beauty. What little snow remained swirled dramatically across the open meadows beneath the mountains, creating a stark and beautiful late-winter landscape.

Swirling Snow at Moraine Park, RMNP

Even without bluebirds, it was still a good day to be in Rocky Mountain National Park.

A Surprise Birding Hotspot

Before heading home, we decided to visit another location suggested by Monique’s friend, Tania: a bird feeding area at the YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center.

I was skeptical at first. Bird feeders can sometimes feel a little crowded for wildlife photography, but since we were already nearby, we decided to give it a try.

It turned out to be an excellent recommendation.

The area was full of activity, with everything from Pygmy Nuthatches to Hairy Woodpeckers constantly moving through the trees and feeders. For photographers, it became a great exercise in patience and selectivity. There were so many photographic opportunities that we could afford to wait for better light, cleaner backgrounds, and more interesting poses rather than simply taking every shot we saw.

White Breasted Nuthatch

It was a wonderful way to end the afternoon.

Before leaving Estes Park, we made one final stop at Bird's Nest for warm coffee and a snack before heading home through the canyon.

A Busy Spring for Cattail Chronicles

This video took a little longer than usual to publish, and this blog post took even longer. Spring has been exceptionally busy for us between running our business and traveling for family events. Still, we are hopeful that summer will slow down just enough to give us more opportunities to get back into the mountains with our cameras.

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