We could hear his gurgling call off in the distance as we approach on our XC skis. Perched high above on a dead tree covered in colorful lichen both his vocalizations as well as the colorful branch provided just the right amount of warmth to take the chill of a blustery winter ski.
Yellowstone, NP.
A little Brown Tree Creeper using their wonderful tweezer-like beak similar to a skilled surgeon using a fine surgical instrument extracting a little nibble from the bark an old spruce tree.
While I see the trails all over the place in the snow I seldom see Voles out in the open and for good reason given how many different predators prey on them. This day I kept seeing this Vole darting in and out of a tunnel grabbing what appeared to be a quick bite to eat. They seldom stayed for more than a few seconds but is was great to get a good look and a few (albeit a bit fuzzy) photos of these small mammals.
A little eye to eye with a Black Capped Chickadee on a chilly and snowy afternoon.
We watched as this Townsend’s Solitaire spent the better part of their day defending and consuming berries on a small patch of juniper trees.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology “During the winter, the male and female are both strongly territorial, defending patches of juniper trees against other solitaires and other birds. They feed largely or even exclusively on the juniper’s ripe, fleshy berries for the entire nonbreeding season.”
That sure appeared to be the case this day as this bird sat watch and every once in awhile darted into the tree and grabbed a berry.
One study suggested a single Solitaire would need to eat between 42,000 and 84,000 juniper berries to survive the winter. I don’t think this small patch contained enough for this bird and sharing would be out of the question.
After a quick bite they were back perched and on the lookout. It has been observed that violent fights may break out in defense of the winter territory, because owners of large, berry-rich territories survive the winter at higher rates than solitaires on small territories with few berries. This day all was calm and the owner of this territory had it all to themselves.
To find out more about these inconspicuous but fascinating birds:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Townsends_Solitaire/overview
http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/townsends-solitaire
https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/towsol/overview
Just imagine spending the day eating one blade at a time. Slim pickings when all the grass is beneath the snow and winter just keeps going on.
Yellowstone National Park 2018.
As the old saying goes…it takes two to tango. Last week it was the male Hooded Mergansers performing on the pond for a somewhat non receptive female.This week the female appears at least a wee bit interested in the growing selection of males as they swim around the pond head bobbing to get her attention.
Looks like Duck or Goose may be on the menu as a Coyote prowls the banks of the Platte River in search of a meal.
Denver, CO.
A young Mule Deer with ears up and at the ready. There were people loading their gear just up the road at a trailhead and this deer was alert and ready to move if need be.
The Male Mallards are really looking sharp these days. Fully dressed in mating colors this male Mallard was just chilling on the river bank watching the ladies swim by.
nature has no boss 
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