RMNP - early June

[jnadler]

A non-photo family visit, staying at Estes Park, will nevertheless have me bringing some photo gear. I will purchase books and do a thorough web search for must-see landscape spots, but not sure how plentiful accessible birdlife is to pursue in this park. I know it is nothing like Yellowstone for wildlife. Any suggestions for raptors, three-toed woodpeckers, or other songbirds is much appreciated, in Rocky Mountain National Park or even grasslands near the Colorado-Wyoming border.

[E.J. Peiker]

Stellers Jays, Gray Jays, Clarks Nutcracker, Black-billed Magpie are all easy to get there. There are many other birds but probably a little tougher to get. The areas around the picnic areas and also Rainbow Curve abound with birds that have gotten used to people scraps.

Landscape shots abound everywhere. Sprague, Bear Dream Lake, etc are all great. The higher elevations give you fantastic shots of Long's Peak

Should be Elk around that time of year too. Coyotes are often seen (I had one hike with me for 5 miles in June)

[AndrewKelley]

The aspen grove along Endo Valley road is reputed to be a good place for nesting mountain bluebirds.

[Chris Fagyal]

I would imagine Mountain Bluebirds will be around as well. I made a brief stop there a few years ago in early April and there were loads of Elk (all looking miserable because they were shedding their winter coats), and there were multiple Mountain Bluebirds fairly close to the entrance on the Estes Park side. EJ covered the other things I saw with my brief foray.

[Judd Patterson]

If you head up to the highest elevations along Trail Ridge Road you are bound to see American Pipits along the melting snow patches, as well as the potential for rosy-finches and ptarmigan...but all three will take a little strategy to find and photograph well. I got lucky and had a Golden Eagle right next to the road as I was leaving West Horseshoe Valley in June 2006...wow, that was cool!

[Jerry_Jelinek]

Jeff, June is a great time to visit. If you can manage an early June visit, you will miss hoards of people invading once school lets out. Trail Ridge Road should be open and there will be ample snow on the mountains for landscape shots. Can't help you with bird photography, but the landscapes and hiking are just great. Enjoy.

[jnadler]

We are booking a flight for early June.