At times we are granted unexpected sightings, at others, the subject of our desire remains out of reach, no matter how hard we try. Yet every so often, when we have resigned ourselves to the fact that some yearnings will remain ungratified, like an offering from the Fates, we are provided with an unforeseen gift.
Such was the case on this summer day, when I decided to prolong my visit at Glen Eyrie, where my weekly group of birding enthusiasts had done a survey of the local avifauna. This former estate of Colorado Springs founder, General William Jackson Palmer, is now in the possession of the Navigators, who run it as a religious retreat center, but also offer admittance to the public via a reservation system. After my birding friends’ departure, I hiked some of the rocky trails between the geologic formations that are the direct continuation of neighboring Garden of the Gods to the south.
Zu manchen Zeiten werden uns unerwartete Sichtungen zuteil, zu anderen wiederum wird uns das Objekt unserer Sehnsucht verwehrt, egal wie sehr wir danach streben. Gelegentlich, nachdem wir uns bereits damit abgefunden haben, daß unsere Wünsche unerfüllt bleiben, beschenkt uns das Schicksal mit unvorhergesehenen Gaben.
Das war an diesem Sommertag der Fall, als ich mich entschied, meinen Besuch bei Glen Eyrie zu verlängern, wo mein Vogelclub eine Bestandsaufnahme der Vogelwelt gemacht hatte. Dieses ehemalige Anwesen von General William Jackson Palmer, dem Stadtgründer von Colorado Springs, ist jetzt im Besitz der Navigatoren, die es als religiösen Erholungsort betreiben, es aber auch der Öffentlichkeit mittels Reservierung zugänglich machen. Nachdem meine Vogelfreunde Abschied genommen hatten, erforschte ich einige der Wanderpfade inmitten der geologischen Formationen, die die direkte Fortsetzung des benachbarten Garden of the Gods darstellen.
To enlarge a photo, click on it. To read its caption, hover cursor over it.
Zum Vergrößern, das Bild bitte anklicken. Um den Titel zu lesen, mit der Maus darüber schweben.
The early morning’s sunny sky had been obscured by clouds, resulting in a mystical atmosphere. Maybe this was the prerequisite for viewing what, in my mind, had become a mythical animal, as it had remained unfindable by me, despite being observed and photographed by seemingly every other person, resident and visitor alike. When my roving gaze discerned an unusual shape between the angular cliffs, I did a double take, and my heart a double beat.
Der sonnige Morgenhimmel war von einer Wolkendecke verschleiert worden, was in einer mystischen Stimmung resultierte. Vielleicht war das die Voraussetzung dafür, dasjenige Tier zu Gesicht zu bekommen, das für mich zum Fabelwesen geworden war, da es unauffindbar war, obwohl es scheinbar jede Person außer mir bereits gesehen und photographiert hatte, egal ob Anwohner oder Besucher. Als mein umherschweifender Blick eine ungewöhnliche Kontur zwischen den kantigen Klippen wahrnahm, mußte ich zweimal hingucken, und mein Herz klopfte etwas schneller.
The elusive Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep finally (con)descended to give me an audience. This ovine of high altitudes is an anomaly along the Front Range, with a decades-old local history. In 1946, when the trailer that was in the process of relocating a dozen animals from Colorado’s Tarryall Mountains to Pikes Peak broke down, they were released, and established a successful Bighorn Society in Queen’s Canyon, just west of Glen Eyrie, instead of making their way up to our local fourteener.
During each previous visit to Garden of the Gods, I had scanned the rocky crags to no avail. On this day, they weren’t even on my mind, which proved my introductory point above. Needless to say, I was over the moon to have made the acquaintance of one of the descendants of the original flock. Better late than never!
Das schlüpfrige Rocky-Mountains-Dickhornschaf ließ sich endlich dazu herab (im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes), mir eine Audienz zu gewähren. Diese Schafsart der hohen Gefilde ist im Vorgebirge der Rocky Mountains eine Ausnahme, mit einer jahrzehntelangen hiesigen Geschichte. Als der Anhänger, der 1946 ein Dutzend Tiere von den Tarryall Bergen in Richtung Pikes Peak transportierte eine Panne hatte, wurden sie in der Nähe freigelassen, und siedelten sich erfolgreich in Queen’s Canyon westlich von Glen Eyrie an, anstatt auf unserem hiesigen 4000 Meter hohen Berg.
Bei jedem Besuch von Garden of the Gods hatte ich die Felswände abgesucht, jedoch ohne Erfolg. An diesem Tag hatte ich sie nicht mal im Sinn, was mein obiges Argument bestätigte. Es versteht sich von selbst, daß ich überglücklich war, die Bekanntschaft mit einem der Nachfahren der ursprünglichen Herde gemacht zu haben. Besser spät als nie!
Well done for finally tracking one down 👍. Impressive critters, aren’t they? Now for a QUESTION from a puzzled Brit … what’s a “fourteener?” I’m guessing (from my almost non-existent German) it’s a peak over 4,000 metres / 14,000 feet high. Am I right?
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Very impressive indeed!
As are your powers of deduction. 😊 My apologies for assuming that everyone knows about fourteeners/14ers. At least in Colorado they are on everyone’s tongue.
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We don’t have much use for the concept of a fourteener over here as the highest mountain in the UK (Ben Nevis, Scotland) is just 4,411 feet high. And in England, where I hang my hat, it’s Scafell Pike at a meagre 3,209 feet. Mere pimples by Colorado standards 😊 .
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Colorado has at least 53 fourteeners (depending on the definition, there might be a few more), so we are very spoiled. But I would never look down on a mere “threethousander, ” (at least not figuratively, though I might do so literally, were I on top of one of those fourteeners). 😊
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I did what you did: looked at the German to confirm my guess that a fourteener is a mountain 14,000 feet tall.
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That’s surprising to me, Steve. I guess one has to live in a state with fourteeners, or have done a fourteener, to know what a fourteener is!
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What a strange and beautiful beast, Tanja. Pretty sturdy looking!
You have captured him very well in word and image, too!
[con/descended! :)]
xoxo
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Aptly said, Nick: Strange and beautiful!
I have visions of Max in the movie “The Grinch,” tipping over because of the antler on his head. Somehow it seems physically impossible for this animal to not only to remain upright, but to leap and bound across steep slopes with its heavy head held high!
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Das freut mich für dich liebe Tanja, dass du endlich erfolgreich warst.
Auch deine Bilder sind wahrlich Wohlfühl Bilder.
Herzliche Grüße, Brigitte
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Es freut mich, daß es Dich freut, liebe Brigitte, und ich danke Dir herzlich für Deinen netten Kommentar.
Bis bald,
Tanja
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For a long time, I would say to Alie “you have seen a Bighorn Sheep,” and she would reply “a Q-tip on the side of a mountain doesn’t count.” Then one day in British Columbia, there was a flock grazing close to the road! It really is a thrill to see one long-sought animal.
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I am glad Alie finally got a closer look at one of these impressive creatures. I had seen them while driving along I-70, or when hiking in the mountains, but never here in Colorado Springs, and never from this close. It’s a sight to remember!
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Boah! Und ein Bighorn! Superklasse!
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Sehr BIGhorn. Der muß so einiges an Gewicht mit sich herumschleppen!
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Perfekte Fotos, liebe Tanja! Ich freue mich für dich – wobei mir haben sie auch freude gemacht. Liebe Grüße, Andrea
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Geteilte Freude ist doppelte Freude!
Vielen Dank, liebe Andrea. 😊
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Herzlichen Glückwunsch zu deiner Sichtung!
Viele Grüsse
Christa
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Dankeschön, liebe Christa. Es war ein ganz besonderer Moment für mich.
Ich hoffe es geht Dir gut und ich sende Dir liebe Grüße zurück.
Tanja
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Danke der Nachfrage! Ja, es geht mir gut!👍
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Das freut mich! 🌻
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Beautiful creature. It looks mythical. I’m surprised that predators haven’t eliminated them.
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Thank you, Neil. The only predator that might be able to take down one of these is a bear, I think, but they don’t usually live in the same habitat, and they would have to contend with those horns! If I were a bear, I would think twice about the resultant headache.
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Wow!! I had no idea they could be seen there, Tanja. ‘Over the moon’ indeed. 😀
Scott and I hiked GoG a couple of times in the fog and mist (even once in the low 20’s) and I enjoy the ambiance this place radiates when the masses are gone and the lines and colors are softened. Heavenly.
Congrats on your sighting. Glad to see you are still getting out and exploring. I’m nearly out of the weeds … perhaps fully in time for winter birding along the coast.
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I agree with, Shannon, the atmosphere at GOG in fog and mist is extra special.
Maybe you will have an encounter of the
ovine kind the next time you are there. They tend to be on the crags north of the main parking lot where you usually park, so it’s a distinct possibility.
Can you believe September is half over?! I hope you enjoyed your various “dirtnkids” projects this summer.
Many greetings to all,
Tanja
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Beautiful!!
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Thank you, Takami, I am glad you enjoy the ram. I found him very handsome, too.
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What a wonderful, surprise sighting, I am happy for you seeing one, Tanja! That castle is amazing too. 🙂
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It really was a day full of surprises, Donna. The animal, the castle, and the natural setting are all marvelous in their own right.
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So now you’re chanting: Ovine: oh, mine! So fine.
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It has always been my theory that good mathematicians make good musicians, or vice versa. You just proved my point (I am only waiting for your recorded version now, Steve). 🙂
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I have an ability with words but not, alas, with music. You’re correct that some math people do have musical ability; Einstein, for example, played the violin.
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Einstein was one of the physicists/mathematicians I had in mind, Steve. Your line sounded not only lyrical, but also musical, so I assumed you were among those doubly-gifted.
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I visited the Garden of the Gods with my parents as a child, but have almost no memory of that vacation, except for playing in the snow atop the Continental Divide. You have a marvelous memory now: one well worth the safe-keeping. Better late than never, indeed.
I’m especially taken with the contrast between the delicacy of its legs and hoofs, and those magnificent, heavy-looking horns. Do they battle one another with them, as the deer do with their antlers? If so, I suspect there are more than a few rams with raging headaches every rutting season.
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I hope you will refresh your memory one of these days by revisiting Garden of the Gods, and you might get to see one of these sheep.
They do indeed use their horns against one another, and what I have seen in nature films looks and sounds incredibly violent. I get a headache merely from watching!
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What a brilliant photo! It’s as if it had decided to show itself in a brief but striking pose.
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Thank you. I wonder if he had any idea that he would be admired by people near and far. 😊
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Herzlichen Glückwunsch zur Erfüllung deines Wunsches liebe Tanja 🙂 Schön, daß du dieses Tier endlich selber sichten konntest. Es sieht wunderschön aus mit seinen geschwungenen Hörnern. Es ist schon lustig, wie sich manche Wünsche erfüllen, wenn man sie gar nicht mehr auf dem Schirm hat und wie schön, daß die Sichtung dieses besonderen Schafes dir soviel Freude gemacht hat! Auf meiner Wunschliste stehen noch Kolkrabe, Käuzchen, Schwalbenschwanz und diverse andere Tiere. Das Taubenschwänzchen hat sich ja letzten Sommer am Balkon gezeigt, aber leider nur für ca. 5 Sekunden. Länger wäre wünschenswert, sehr 😉 Weiterhin schöne Beobachtungen wünsche ich dir!
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Herzlichen Dank, liebe Almuth. Diese Begegnung erinnerte mich mal wieder daran, daß es gut ist, immer mit offenen Augen, aber nicht mit einer engen Geisteshaltung loszuziehen.
Ich habe mir schon so oft die schöne Zeit vermiest, weil ich mich auf einen bestimmten Vogel versteift hatte, daß ich den sprichwörtlichen Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht sehen konnte.
Hoffentlich bekommst Du Deine Wunschtiere mal zu Gesicht.
Liebe Grüße,
Tanja
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Oh ja, das glaube ich gerne, daß die Enttäuschung umso größer ist, wenn man etwas bestimmtes sehen will. Das habe ich zum Glück seltener. Ich lasse mich gerne überraschen, freue mich, wenn ich überhaupt Vögel sehe 🙂 LG, Almuth
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Superschöne Bilder, Landschaften und Tiere.
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Dankeschön. Es freut mich, daß sie Dir gefallen.
Viele Grüße,
Tanja
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How blessed to have had the opportunity to see and photograph this beautiful creature!
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It was a very special moment, Diane. Thank you!
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” better late than never ” “meglio tardi che mai” in Italian-language.
bye Tanja, have a nice w.e. 🙂
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I will try to remember. Grazie!
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Great sighting, Tanja! One never knows how we will be rewarded for our persistence but this was a real treat of nature for you. I had a similar experience a few weeks back when a moose decided to munch some twigs nearby where i was photographing a landscape.
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I remember your moose photo, Steve. Those kind of moments will keep us going and going… 😊
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Yes, they are always happy occasions and something to hope for each time out. 🙂
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Spectacular!
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I am glad you share my elation, Melissa. I still relish the memory of that encounter.
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Oh, I can imagine. And, you had the presence of mind to get great shots! I’d have been standing there with my mouth open and only later wondered why I didn’t get some photos! 😀
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After this happened to me a few times I always have my camera at the ready!
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Smart.
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Way to go on the big horn sheep. We have to see one on our trips out west much less get a photo. Quite awesome!
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Thank you, Lisa. I had actually seen them in other locations, but never so close to home, which is why this encounter was especially meaningful.
Best wishes,
Tanja
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That is so awesome! One of these days we will get our chance.
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With all of our urban city lifestyles today, photos of beautiful remote mountains and landscapes should be on billboards, bus stops coffeehouses and may other daily passages, to remind us to take some time out for sightseeing’and other journeys with nature! 🦜
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Thank you for your comment. I agree wholeheartedly and I think that the separation from nature accounts for many personal and global ills.
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[…] you remember the elation I felt about my first encounter with one of our local Bighorn Sheep this past summer? Multiply that excitement by sixty, and you will be able to relate to my sheer […]
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[…] help of the Colorado Springs Company. He and his beloved, “Queen” Palmer, resided at Glen Eyrie until Queen’s health forced her to move to a lower elevation. He also became a generous […]
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[…] first local herd of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis), a joyful occasion some of you might remember from a previous blog post, where I also explain how the errant ancestors of these imposing animals ended up in the foothills […]
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