Wildlife viewing was OK, but nothing to compare with the amazing wildlife Doug and I had enjoyed two years earlier running from the Green River Lakes in Wyoming. That said, the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge was the highlight of the trip. Beaver sign was everywhere, and although we heard a lot of warning slaps we never actually spotted a beaver.

We did see the usual birds, deer, pronghorns, and some wild horses. My most unusual sighting was a very large, white bird with heron like body and black along the entire trailing edge of the wings. I was unable to get my binoculars out before losing site of it, but am sure it wasn't one of the obvious suspects: white pelican, egret, or white ibis. While the bird I saw fits the description of a wood stork better than a whooping crane, the latter is known to have been found in the refuge, while the stork would have been an accidental visitor far west of its normal range. Either way, a rare bird, and I wish I had gotten a better look through binoculars!