Fall trees ablaze with color

     In between cold fronts I went out Saturday morning to enjoy the bright sunny day and brilliant trees.  Conifers become darker green, and Aspens light up the forest in yellow.  (sometimes orange).  American Goldfinches are migrating in flocks. They are the color of dying Aspen leaves, no longer matching the yellow flickering leaves.
     A week and a half ago I hiked to Taggart and Bradley Lakes.  What a pretty day !  A Belted Kingfisher and 3 Common Mergansers were fishing in the lake. 
     Willow Flats and the meadows are shades of yellow, rusty brown, and orange.  Elk have been bugling their mating calls across the fields at night and early morning.

 This young male Mule Deer stopped to look at me as I walked along a creek.

Grand Teton at sunrise from the balcony of the registration building.

I took the Tram up to Rendezvous Peak, at 10,927 feet, and hiked around below the summit.  Surprisingly a few flowers are still blooming (on the south slope).  Grey Jays and Mountain Bluebirds were fun to watch.

Oh no, Fall

The glorious summer in the mountains is no more.  Wildflowers are mostly faded and gone to seed. Asters, Yarrow, and the little Mountain Sunflower persist.  Nights are much cooler.  I had the window open in the room for nearly 3 months.  Vireos, Tanagers, and most of the Swallows have departed for warmer places and more insects to eat.
    This photo from Lupine Meadows road, an Aspen has turned yellow ahead of the other trees.

Fireweed stalk with red leaves, willows, and alder sapling.

Geranium leaves turn red before other foliage. Trailsides have been so green with abundant plants.
    I carried the 'scope down the trail to Christian Pond to study ducks.  Ugh, all in eclipse plumage.  Coot families were swimming together, a few Wigeons, Gadwalls, and others I did not figure out.