February 28th

A monthly hike turned into a birdwatching party as we were hoping for another black-backed woodpecker sighting. Nothing there, but we did spot multiple downy and hairy woodpeckers. A definite pair of hairy woodpeckers plus a few individuals. They were all pecking at the recently-burned trees, with many of the trees showing signs of significant woodpecker activity. Notice the flaked-off outer bark and multiple holes. We also heard the distinct sliding call of the flicker and then spotted the source sitting on a rock. The recent snow held onto the tracks of multiple animals. Coyotes and rabbits, mice and prairie dogs were predominant. Tracks from the prairie dogs in their town made great zig-zag patterns in the snow. We also flushed a pair of owls from a snag in a canyon. Big, silent, and light-colored but without ear tufts visible, we think they were short-eared. I'll go back to check next week.