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.
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.
Well, yes it is only March, and winter will be hanging around, but who can resist a splash of summer just a little before it’s time.
A flash of red moving in the canopy lead us to a beautiful Summer Tanager perched overhead. These birds are specialized hunters of bees and wasps. Catching them on the wing and managing to avoid getting stung and removing the stinger by rubbing thier prey on a tree branch prior to confining their meal.
Most of our encounters with the brilliant colored males were looking through dense foliage however once and awhile one managed to land in clear sight and in camera view.
A little splash of summer on a late winters day.
On a crisp and sunny February morning we spent some time watching a group of Crows playing around on an iced over lake. We were unable to tell what they were doing even after half an hour of observation. Could it have been looking for food, either embedded into the ice, or under it? Or were they just admiring their handsome reflections on the ice? Or who knows what. Anyway, it was fun to observe them walking ever so gingerly to avoid slipping around and peering into the ice for a reason we were unable to determine.
A little eye to eye with a Black Capped Chickadee on a chilly and snowy afternoon.
nature has no boss 
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