It is late-afternoon and we sit in the RV after laundering.  It is 41 degrees and remarkably raining lightly on this sagebrush desert at 7,700 feet.  We returned from a morning of touring to grocery shop in Gunnison and do chores here before moving to Montrose tomorrow.

This morning we drove into the Elk Mountains north of Gunnison and enjoyed fine scenery displaying dramatic geology but few birds.  Stopping at the Granite Campground we found a pair of American Dipper feeding and gathering nesting material along an ice fringed stream.  Then a Golden Eagle appeared soaring in steady circles at the top of the canyon.  We sat in the car for lunch as it began raining and sleeting.  After that we retreated to lower elevations.

On Saturday, we bagged our Gunnison Sage-grouse at the Waunita lek east of Gunnison.  The experience was satisfactory, but somewhat frustrating.  We are late in the season and the males quit displaying an left well before sunrise.  We could just see that they were sage grouse when they flew into the sagebrush and vanished.  We would wish for a better view, but at least we can add the species to our life-list.

We did not do so well with the Boreal Owl.  We enjoyed a lovely drive south into the volcanic San Juan Mountains taking in vistas of striking Mt. Umcompahgre and the giant landslide that slid a substantial portion of Mesa Seca down the valley and across the stream about 850 years ago.  Today a large lake remains formed by this sudden geologic formation.  In places the earth is still moving slowly along and rippling the highway. 

We will make more late night ventures in search of owls and have much more of Colorado to see.  The weather could be rough this week.  This storm may sit here for a few days.  Our move will take us to a lower elevation and provide a bit more warmth.  Here we have not connected to the water faucet fearing the hose would freeze.  Instead we draw water from the on-board tank.  A beauty of RV’ing is that one can be so self contained.  Amazing is how few resources are used.  Our tank holds 30 gallons and easily provides three days of water.  Try getting by on 10 gallons of water a day at home some time!