Absent from the area most of the winter the Dark Eyed Juncos have returned. First one, then two now quite a few. Hanging out in the trees on a typical spring day with some snow, some sunset mostly in-between. Soon we will hear the calling from the tree tops and the juniper bushes nearby. Another wonderful sign spring is on it’s way.
Don’t know why but we named this guy Horace. Love his dirty beak. Canylonlands NP, Utah.
Almost but not quite. Red Winged Blackbirds are back in town but the shoulder badges on the males are not quite a vibrant red and the sky is still a bit grey and wintery this day. Almost, but not quite, spring is indeed in the air. I can hear this blackbird singing.
Perched along a country road the male Mountain Bluebirds have return to lay claim to the nest boxes nearest to what they consider the best feeding grounds. While the ground may still bear snow these guys know the early bird gets the girl.
The changes may be subtle but in only a work-weeks time Mr Lemmon Chin has become Mr. Lemmonhead.
Although snow is still piled high in the farm fields outside of town and night-time temperatures are well below freezing. Just like clockwork the Horned Larks have returned to grace the roadsides the second week of March. While most darted off into those snow filled fields as we gingerly drove the country roads this guy perched on a little snow mound and posed for a minute and two. It was nice to get a good long look at this guy and when the Horned larks return it is another sure sign spring is on its way.
Sometimes just creeping along is the way to go.
Our local population of Brown Creepers will soon disperse to higher elevations and deeper forests not far away but also not close to home. We have enjoyed having a few around this winter and many migrant birds arrive for summer some will go.
It is a sure sign that spring is coming when the male Goldfinches begin to develop just that bit of yellow beneath their beak. In a few weeks time we will watch his feathers turn and he will be wearing his breeding suit and become a brilliant lemon yellow.
Oh how Time marches son.
A male Gambel’s quail letting it be know he is a very available bachelor on a nice spring morning in western Colorado.
But then again with the sun out and the rain no longer pouring down this might be a Cormorants idea of a picnic.
nature has no boss 
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