Birds and Blooms around Denver

On our first morning in Central City we decided to drive into Denver for the day.  On the way I wanted to stop at Genesse Mountain Park to photograph Williamson's Sapsuckers, a species I have never photographed before.  Our first stop was at the largest picnic area near the top.  I immediately saw that this area was very "birdy".   Directly in front of my truck were two nest cavities occupied by Violet-green Swallows.  Each cavity contained two hungry youngsters fighting each other for food whenever a parent flew by.

Fledgling Violet-green Swallows almost ready to leave their nest cavity

Juvenile male Williamson's Sapsucker

A family group of Western bluebirds were gathered around a picnic table to my left while Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatches were near the top of the swallow tree.  Within five minutes I spotted my first Williamson's Sapsucker.  It was a juvenile.  I worked the next hour and a half trying to photograph them in good light but was unsuccessful.  I saw the female and juveniles many times but never the colorful male with the red throat patch and yellowish belly.  The coloration of the female is so very plain compared to the adult male that you can't help being disappointed in not getting a chance at the male.  I will try again in a day or two.

Pygmy Nuthatches usually make a lot of noise.

Adult male Western Bluebird

Our next stop was the Denver Botanic Gardens (http://www.botanicgardens.org/). The gardens are located just 10 minutes east of downtown and is one of the top-ranked gardens in the U.S., although it had a few speed bumps in its development.   In the 1950's the city set aside 100 acres in city park.  "Night diggers" stole plants and trampled the unfenced site until the gardens were moved to the present 23 acre location which sits on top of an old cemetery.   Most graves were relocated very early but even last year graves were discovered when the irrigation and sprinkling systems were renovated.  With 7 diverse gardens, impressive conservatory, and an active education program, the Denver Botanic Gardens should not be missed.

One of the many garden pools

Japanese Garden

With temperatures in the 90's and not having eaten since early morning it was time for an air-conditioned restaurant.  Adam from Man vs Food recommended the Buckhorn Exchange (http://www.buckhorn.com/).  Opened in 1893,  it is Denver's oldest restaurant and holds the #1 liquor license in Colorado.  Known for its western frontier meats you can order rattlesnake, elk, buffalo, quail, salmon, lamb, and of course beef.  If you don't like a lot of stuffed animals or guns, do not enter this restaurant.  The lady seated to my left kept looking nervously at the huge elk head above her during the meal and upon paying her bill asked the waitress if any had ever come loose and fallen.  The waitress said only once and it landed on a waiter-not a customer. 
I ordered the buffalo prime rib with beans while Edie got the beef tenderloin steak.  Both were perfect.  I had watched Adam eat the Rocky Mountain Oysters here but he was uncomfortable with this "delicacy" so I didn't even consider them for an appetizer.

Doesn't look like much from the outside but great food inside.

You will have to go to Texas to find a restaurant with more stuffed animals than the Buckhorn Exchange

Buffalo in the foreground, beef tenderloin in the back.