September 2025 Part Two: Colorado Trip Report

 

Joyful Journeys-San Luis Valley, Colorado

In Mid-September, I drove up to the San Luis Valley in Colorado to meet longtime friends from the Boulder area. We met for two nights at Joyful Journeys Hot Springs and Spa. As it turns out, we did the same meet-up exactly a year before, so now we're thinking it's an annual event. The valley sits to the west of the northern part of the Sangre de Cristo range. From the spa, we could look out to see stunning views of the fall aspen in the mountains.

 

As it turns out, this trip fit completely into the relaxed MO of all my travels this year: A fairly short drive as road trips go, then we planted ourselves on the grounds of the spa, no more driving  until it was time to go. Breakfast and dinner was provided, which really makes it my kind of place. Nothing to do but visit, walk around the peaceful grounds, soak in the hot springs, practice Tai Chi, read, and watch the birds and wildlife. Though we stayed comfortably in the lodge, Tipis and Yurts are also available to guests. 

 

 

The grounds have a labyrinth and a meditation tipi, which sit beautifully on the landscape. (I think I'm sounding like an ad here, though not my intention.)

 

We spent a lot of time on our back porch, watching the birds that would pop up in the trees and shrubs. Sometimes we watched them from out the window as various species would pop up in the bushes: Green-Tailed Towhee, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, and more.. As I've experienced in all my trips this year, some of the best close-up bird observation can happen this way. 

 

Song Sparrow. They haven't arrived in Albuquerque yet, so it was a treat to see and hear them. 

 

Northen Flicker: At one point, there were four of them together in the tree behind our room. This seems to be the time of year to see them in small family groups. 

The Eurasian Collared-Doves were being very lovey-dovey.

 

Meditation Hill

In addition to the backyard version, we discovered another good place to sit (or stand) and watch birds and wildlife, looking down into the valley from a little circle of cairns and benches called Meditation Hill. From this vantage point, we saw Black-Billed Magpies, Mountain Bluebirds, Horned Larks, a Golden Eagle, and a herd of Pronghorn. Everything was too far away (or too skulky) to get photos, so I did quick sketches of the two stars of the show. 

 Golden Eagle and Pronghorn

 Bird of the Trip: Pine Siskin

Birders often have a ritual of choosing a "bird of the day" on bird outings. It could be the most rare find, or the most unexpected, or just a favorite for personal reasons. Though I just called that far away Golden Eagle a star, the real stars for me are almost always the closest encounters. So here is my Pine Siskin Story. 

A flock of Pine Siskin hung around the near the lodge. We found them in the backyard trees, and all over the grounds. In these photos, they are drinking from a shallow birdbath.

One afternoon as I headed back to the room, I saw a Pine Siskin in a small pine maybe 10 feet from me. To my surprise and delight, the little bird flew down and landed on a sunflower stalk just two feet away from me. I didn't dare move a muscle as the Siskin foraged from bloom to bloom, moving closer to me with each hop. After watching for awhile, I decided to very slowly raise my phone to try to get a photo. Of course that was the end of the moment. But this is the "bird moment" I treasure most from the trip. 

 

That concludes my news from September. I look forward to seeing what October will bring, and hope you also find some joy in your journeys, wherever you are, and whatever you do.