July 17, 2006: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (27 PHOTOS, 23 BIRD/ANIMAL)

Our last day of the trip was spent where it started - Rocky Mountain National Park! Early morning saw us take a very nice hike at Cub Lake Trail. This is a nice walk. We found an injured Magpie here, unfortunately, so we visited the visitor center to see if help could be found. Later in the day, we stopped by the YMCA of the Rockies to check out the birdfeeders there, and had a nice conversation with their bird bander, Scott Rashid, who also authors a cool book about birding Rocky Mountain National Park.

In the evening, we left the mountains for good, had a great BBQ Buffet at Bubba's of Greeley, and headed to near the airport for the night.

The beautiful Big Thompson River flows near the beginning of Cub Lake Trail (Melissa's photo)

Early morning at Beaver Meadows

Our cabin at MacGregor Lodge!

The last sunset of the trip, over the Rocky Mountains (Melissa's photo)

BIRDING: Early morning on Cub Lake Trail was quite productive. We saw BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (including one very sad case where a mother magpie had one leg competely wrapped in fishing line, but still was finding enough food for her young one. She still was too strong to catch and give to a rehabilitator). Lots of RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS, also GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, BROWN COWBIRD, NORTHERN FLICKER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, EMPIDONAX FLYCATCHER, AMERICAN CROW, BROAD TAILED HUMMINGBIRD, and MALLARD DUCKS

At YMCA of the Rockies, STELLAR JAYS, MAGPIES, CASSIN'S FINCH, SONG SPARROW, HAIRY WOODPECKER, and possibly heard only RED CROSSBILLS. A PYGMY NUTHATCH was seen at a feeder here, also.

Ground Squirrel (Cub Lake Trail)

These deer were along US36 near Beaver Meadows.

Rabbit on Cub Lake Trail

Another Cub Lake Trail critter

Green-Tailed Towhee (Cub Lake Trail)

Northern Red-Shafted Flicker (Cub Lake Trail)

Empidonax Flycatcher (Cub Lake Trail)

American Crow (Cub Lake Trail)

Squirrel (Cub Lake Trail) (Melissa's photo)

Flying Broad Tailed Hummingbird (Cub Lake Trail)

Empidonax Flycatcher (Cub Lake Trail)

Female Mallard (Cub Lake Trail)

Young Brown Cowbird? (Cub Lake Trail)

Red-Naped Sapsucker (Cub Lake Trail)

Yellow-Rumped (Audubon's) Warbler

Young Black-Billed Magpie (Cub Lake Trail) (Melissa's Photo)

Black-Headed Grosbeak (MacGregor Lodge)

Steller's Jay (MacGregor Lodge) (Melissa's photo)

That feeder isn't for Hairy Woodpeckers! (YMCA Of the Rockies)

Cassin's Finch (YMCA of the Rockies)

Unidentified Hummingbird (YMCA of the Rockies)

A very impressive Elk on Route 66 outside town.

Black-Billed Magpie (Cub Lake Trail)