Due to some national park site closures due to the government shutdown and to changes because of rain and flash flood warnings, we were ahead of “schedule” on our drive in Colorado. We altered plans to take a different route — the Million Dollar Highway. The two lane U.S. Route 550 travels north from New Mexico through Colorado. Various stories attribute the naming of the old road through the many mining towns, but the section between Silverton and Ouary lives up to its moniker.
We had sunny skies, clouds sweep by, and a snow storm. Quite a drive. I spotted something that made me pull over into a convenient spot where some ATVs were parked that were going to climb the side roads. It wasn’t this that made me stop.
Or even the colors of the aspens and evergreens.
Or even the patterns in the aspens.
Or even the stream that ran along the road.
These fellows made me stop.
A group of ravens has many names: A Conspiracy, an Unkindness, a Treachery. Around the Tower of London, they’re called a Constable. We had a snack and watched them fly among the aspen.
The Conspiracy would frequently reorganize.
Not until I was home and worked on the images, did I see a spy among the Conspiracy — a Black-billed Magpie. Spot it?
