Weld Birds

The Winter Birds are slipping away from me I realize; a quick dash out east today in hopes of catching a few. Slim hopes. :)

At Latham, Red-winged Blackbirds:

I drove out to Banner Lakes with some vague idea of looking for Long-earred Owls. I didn't find any, but on the way back to the car I flushed a GHO. At least my vague idea had some semblance of logic!

Flew out right in front of me; didn't even know he'd been there!

Another silhouette for the gallery, a Western Meadowlark.

Young Gulch to Myself

What to do when school's out due to "inclement" weather? Bundle up and go play outside of course!

I arrived at the empty Young Gulch lot to find I was the first visitor this morning.

There wasn't tons of snow, but there was a sort of snow 

"fun factor" - with yesterday's rain most of the trail was frozen...

snow on top of ice made for interesting travels.

The stream that crosses Young Gulch was open in a few spots. In most spots

however I could just hear the water gurgling underneath the ice.

In a few spots I had to be really observant to even suspect I was 

crossing the stream!

Young Gulch was quiet (except for the near-constant gurgling.) Every 

once in a while I'd hear a calling Solitaire or Chickadee.

I made it a little over a mile in before I decided my fingers and toes

were about done for. I hightailed it about as fast as my snow boots 

would let me on the way back.

Also enjoying the sub-zero weather today: Several Brown Creepers, Juncos, 

an irritated-sounding Flicker, one Robin and some noisy

Clark's Nutcrackers. There were LOTS of great foot prints in the snow: Rabbits, rodents, 

birds and one small cat or doggish print....bobcat?

Leaving at lunchtime....the still blissfully empty parking lot.

and on the way home....

I was thinking about Dippers on my way in this morning. Those Polar

Bear swimmers have NOTHING on these guys!