May 15. A generally quiet winter as far as animals go. Not many birds around except the usual winter ones, being the Stellar Jays, crows, Magpies occasionally, Pine Grosbeaks in and out, Mountain Chickadees with a few Black Capped chickadees and only an infrequent Gray Jay- once the most common winter bird but probably moved to town for easier handouts. Also infrequent but around both White Breasted and Red Breasted nuthatches, and Gray Crowned Rosy finch. The biggest birding surprise was a small flock of Red Crossbills and mixed in with then Pine Siskins. Why they would flock together, and this was for quite a while, is beyond me. They have continued to come and go in very small numbers.
New arrivals have started up with the first Robins on March 06. They were chased away a few times by wind and snow but each time they returned they set up territories, so were here. They were followed by Northern Flickers and Mountain Bluebirds on March 26 and Dark Eyed Junco's on March 27. Cloudy, snowy and most of all windy weather followed which put a hold on arrivals until an influx with Red Winger Blackbirds and Red Napped Sapsucker April 12 and Fox Sparrow April 13. First Canadian Geese came through the 16th and Ruby Crowned Kinglets the 26th. For May arrivals the Violet-Green Swallows showed up May 10 and Yellow Rumped Warbler May 14
Both short tailed and long tailed weasels were here, but the numbers thinned out by February. Also tree squirrels, pine marten, fox, mice and a good number of snowshoe hares, but they also thinned out a bit by March. A moose was in and out a few times, though just now for the first time since mid-January. The first animal emergence were marmots on April 10 and chipmucks April 15. Deer are back around, though few so far.
New arrivals have started up with the first Robins on March 06. They were chased away a few times by wind and snow but each time they returned they set up territories, so were here. They were followed by Northern Flickers and Mountain Bluebirds on March 26 and Dark Eyed Junco's on March 27. Cloudy, snowy and most of all windy weather followed which put a hold on arrivals until an influx with Red Winger Blackbirds and Red Napped Sapsucker April 12 and Fox Sparrow April 13. First Canadian Geese came through the 16th and Ruby Crowned Kinglets the 26th. For May arrivals the Violet-Green Swallows showed up May 10 and Yellow Rumped Warbler May 14
Both short tailed and long tailed weasels were here, but the numbers thinned out by February. Also tree squirrels, pine marten, fox, mice and a good number of snowshoe hares, but they also thinned out a bit by March. A moose was in and out a few times, though just now for the first time since mid-January. The first animal emergence were marmots on April 10 and chipmucks April 15. Deer are back around, though few so far.
Below right is a Rosy Finch as it perches under a building eve for the night. They do this much of the winter though my guess is they fly to Mt. CB to the feeders in the daytime. Otherwise they skim seeds from plants still sticking out in the snow.
A weasel in October, waiting for snow and it's winter coat.
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