Heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Lake. Planning on hiking out to Lake Solitude this morning. It's about a 1.5 mile (500 ft elevation) to the lake. (And if things are good when I return, I'll complete the loop around the lake.)
Definitely more trees changing colors as I head up and the aspen after the Solitude are getting pretty colorful.
I arrive at Silver Lake and it's about 48 degrees. It's still dawn as the sun is not totally up over the mountains yet.
I see a lone doe after the first entrance to the Solitude Resort.
I start the walk down the right side of the boardwalk. Definitely some patches of color in the mountains but around the lake, still green.
Pretty quiet as I walk - no birds out yet this morning.
I cross over the bridge
and soon reach the trail head to Lake Solitude and start up thru the aspen.
Looking for any remaining flowers but the flowers are long gone. There are a few exceptions as I do find just two Paintbrush plants,
one Yarrow plant
and Purple Asters (in spots) in bloom.
There may be a lack of bird noises this morning but the woods are full of busy noisy squirrels and chipmunks.
Also searching moose but having no luck. But I do hear and see a Pika on one of the rock slides.
I arrive at Lake Solitude. It's still in the morning shade but the peak above the lake is in full sun.
The lake itself is very low on water.
I find a rock near the lake to enjoy the morning. I don't usually hang out very long at any destination but today is probably a first for me as my foot definitely needs a good rest. And it's a good thing as there's lots of activity happening here if you just listen and watch.
Lots of different birds chirping and flying around and there's a constant soft buzz of bees/flies (I'm not sure which because they aren't bothering me). Can't forget the chipmunks and squirrels scurrying through the vegetation.
I see a Mallard family swimming on the other side of the lake.
At one point, this bird starts calling; it's very loud. And at the same time, I hear something large moving thru the trees to my left. I'm so curious to find out what it is - deer or moose. Then the movement sounds like something running and out pops deer running out of the woods on the other side of the lake. So cool! I only get a glimpse of the deer before they disappear.
A while later, I see one of the deer walking back towards the woods.
Oh, her fawn just popped out of the woods! Awesome!
Both walk back into the woods. I'm not sure where the other deer went.
I continue to sit. Every so often I hear a large "plop" in the water. I can't image what could be causing that. And then I finally see the culprit -- it's a Belted Kingfisher fishing!! I didn't see him dive but I see him flying above the water to the other side of the lake where he lands in a dead tree. Cool!
The sounds of movement thru the brush and water starts again to my left. I'm looking and then I see two deer takes off back up the mountain thru the trees. I'm assuming that was the Mom and fawn again.
The Kingfisher finally flies back over my way into a tree. And moments later, there he goes, flying, hovering and diving into the water. Pretty awesome!
I watch him two more times
before he finally moves on and so do I.
Just more squirrels and chipmunks busy at work on the way back.
I reach Silver Lake -- not going around the rest of the lake - time to head home.
Awesome day!
