January 9, 2025

Seen from a snug cabin on a snowy morning in west Jefferson County:

Gray-crowned Rosy-finch (Hepburn’s, with the gray cheek)

Gray-crowned Rosy-finch (black cheek, unlike the Hepburn’s form) with Pine Siskins

Brown-capped Rosy-finch

Black Rosy-finch et alia

Cassin’s Finch

January 8, 2025

At Garden of the Gods this morning:

Golden-crowned Sparrow

And at Fountain Creek Regional Park and Nature Center:

Immature male Hooded Mergansers

White-breasted Nuthatch

And far away in the woods and shade:

Winter Wren shaking out its feathers

January 3, 2025

In the late afternoon in the Bear Creek Greenbelt:

American Dipper

The Great Horned Owl pair are spending more time roosting together:

Great Horned Owls

A raccoon perched high in a nest

Common Goldeneye

January 2, 2025

From the Bear Creek Greenbelt . . . here’s a male Hooded Merganser with a favorite meal:

Hooded Merganser with Crawfish

Gadwalls have been regular in the pond that never freezes.  Here’s a pair:

Gadwalls

American Dipper

Female Common Goldeneye (far right) with two male Hooded Mergansers and one female

January 1, 2025

A long walk in the Bear Creek Greenbelt is just the way to start the new year.

Wood Ducks and Mallard

An overwintering Say’s Phoebe

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

A morose Mourning Dove

Great Blue Heron

American Wigeon

American Dipper