First, thanks so much for joining me on more than 50 mini-adventures here on this little newsletter! I’m honored you’ve continued to join me in this enterprise. I don’t really do celebrations beyond each day—one day at a time—so let’s jump in!
Sunrise over East Reservoir, Lakewood, Colorado, taken with a DJI Mavic 3, 24 August 2025.
Once again, a bike ride through the dark took me on a journey to catch the colors of the sunrise. The colors were both delayed and enhanced by a pall of smoke that hung to the east of the metro Denver area. Cooler temperatures have arrived, and containment of one of the dreadful wildfires in the western part of Colorado is close.
180° panorama of the rumored sunrise.
The marshes and reeds of the pond were in their full growth of late summer, despite a slow start earlier in the year. The waterfowl were fair, and noisily waking up from their slumber. Cormorants and cranes, and of course, geese and ducks, should have already been on the move by this time except for the smoke blocking the sun.
360° panorama of the colors before the sunrise.
I flew my drones high above East Reservoir until nearly all of the birds had left. Before the sun cleared the smoke and clouds to the east, there was still plenty of color in the HIGH SKY! If you knew where to look, that is.
Peeking through a gap in the gloom. Taken with a DJI Mavic 2 Zoom.
There were already people out walking on a Sunday morning, a half hour before the expected sunrise, along the Bear Creek Trail as I rode towards East Reservoir. But only a few were out, and they were joined also by just a few people walking their dogs at the park.
East Reservoir, dotted with nighttime squatters, along with a delayed sunrise.
When I landed to swap my drone’s batteries waiting for the sun to show itself, I stayed away from the flocks in the pond. It wasn’t quite a “golden hour,” but it was no longer a “blue hour,” rather the morning started with an extended twilight.
The smoky pallor extended the time of twilight, but the flocks would soon take off.
Returning to East Reservoir didn’t disappoint. Lakewood Community Resources manages the park, and they had just trimmed all the grass down, outside of the marsh grass and reeds.
Still waiting for the sun. Taken with a Mavic 3.
When the sun finally appeared, the drone was the first to notice. It was still dark on the ground when I was able to catch the first rays of the sun with my drone.
High above the ground still in shadow, the sun finally peaks out from behind the clouds.
I could take the time for the drone to fly and take photos using a pre-programmed plan and then stitch together multiple photos in a panorama.
180° panorama of the (eventual) sunrise.
The birds might have enjoyed the extra slumber, but as the sunlight grew they were soon off. They might have been late for breakfast, as I was.
Instead of a “golden hour” it was more of a “bronze.”
The water was soon clear, reflecting the sun in all its glory. That was sure nice of the birds to share!
A still capture from a video taken with a Mavic 2 Zoom.
The day dawned vivid and lush, with a cool breeze over the morning dew. It was worth the wait.
Apparently, the bugs felt safe to come out once the birds had left.
I was (somewhat) alone in a little world!
360° panorama of East Reservoir taken with a Mavic 2 Zoom.
Once the last flight has completed, it’s such a nice feeling to land. Almost worth celebrating each time!
After landing, facing the sun.
Thanks for reading all the way to the end—fifty times plus this one!
