2-28
The first sharp-shinned hawk I've seen around my neighborhood in several months was hunting feeder birds in my yard this morning.
As sharpies are dimorphic, the small size of this bird  means that it's probably a male.
John

Utah - Wintering Eagles

     Today the local Audubon chapter made its annual Eagle count starting at  Larry's Spring Chicken Inn for a hearty breakfast before heading out in a driving snowstorm.  We observed 4 Golden eagles (my first) and at least 6 Bald eagles;  at a club member's feeders we observed Common Redpolls, Hoary Redpolls, and an Oregon Junco.  An American Dipper entertained briefly as it skittered along a fast-flowing shallow stream.  Deteriorating road conditions and consistent snow and wind cut short the trip which is scheduled at this time of year to take advantage of the eagles' presence before many migrate north for summer.  The immature Golden eagle pictured was feeding on some remains in a sheep pasture; the Bald eagle, along with a few others, was perched high over an open stream.

Spring

Any guess as to is happening?  No it's not urine.

Utah - Ring-necked Duck

       A lone male Ring-necked duck has been bobbing along on a small neighborhood pond for the past two days.  These ducks winter somewhat south of Utah and summer mostly in Canada.  I made this duck's acquaintance when it took a migratory break on the Retreat Meadows in Brattleboro a few years ago.   According to Sibley, it is named for a dark brown ring at the base of the neck; I have learned to look for the white ring on its bill as visual marker that is much more evident.  Maybe this means winter is nearly over?  Present conditions make me doubtful!

2-21
The lone Red-tailed hawk that has wintered in my neighborhood is now sharing its territory … perhaps with its mate?
And on the West River a pair of Hooded Mergansers kept company with a female Common Merganser.
John

2-20 This morning I found a cricket atop the snow, frozen. As it was wingless I knew that it was not an adult. Crickets moult through as many as 8 -10 wingless instars before reaching winged maturity.
However, there are many species of "ground" and "field" crickets and precise identification requires a lot of esoteric knowledge. I didn't expect to be able to precisely identify this specimen, but it seemed determined to be properly named: as soon as I brought it into the house it revived! Many crickets at this latitude overwinter only as eggs. Adults and nymphs are killed by cold. Overwintering as a nymph is noteworthy. Freezing solid and then reviving is both a good trick and a possible clue.
It seems that there are 2 distinct species of the common black field cricket. One species overwinters as eggs in the soil. That species - responsible for the late summer chorus - is active in summer and fall. The other possibly overlooked species overwinters in a nymphal stage and is active in the spring and early summer. These two cricket species are physically identical! They behave identically! They sing identically! Only the appearance separates the two species.
So, my guess is that the frozen cricket nymph I found on the snow is the spring species of common field cricket. It looks like a black field cricket and it survived freezing as a nymph. So …
Now the only question I have is how did it end up atop the late Feb. snow pack?
John

2-15
The 8 inch diameter hemlock this porcupine was feeding on along Camp Arden Rd had just 3 branches left. In the porky's world the tree is winter food and winter is not yet over.
Just down the road in the direct sunlight Pussy Willows sensed that winter is over - or nearly so - and they poised themselves for the new season to come.
John

2-13
Late this morning a subadult Bald Eagle worked north up the West River valley.
John

2-12
This morning there was a song sparrow huddled in the brush along the West River.
Although song sparrows are listed as year round residents of the area, I never see them until late winter or early spring.
Song sparrows are early to return to this neighborhood, early to claim territories and early to sing in defense of that territory. I see them among the first signs of spring.
John

Nineteen turkeys visit our Dwarf Cherry trees as the blizzard of February 2013 is just starting. Betsy

2-8
Early today, as 35 or 40 Mourning Doves took full advantage of the bird sees I'd scattered in my driveway, one overly frisky male dove advertised his availability from the treetops with his mournful and repetitive cooing.
Today's weather may say winter to us, but at least one dove is already anticipating spring … although his advertising elicited no noticeable response.
John

2-6
While looking for - and finding - Hemlock Woolly Adelgid along Quarry Road I spotted this adult Bald Eagle cruising north over the West River.
John

2-3
This morning before daylight a raccoon cleaned up under my bird feeders. A skunk also came by, unseen but not unscented!
John

mystery in East Dummerston

Tracking in my woods yesterday I saw in the distance all these tracks.  I approached and I found this animal dead and partially eaten.  I wasn't sure it was a wild animal or a cat until I counted it's toes and there were five on each foot, so I knew it wasn't a cat, but a raccoon.  The process of figuring what is going on is the name of the game.

Utah Eurasian Collared-Dove

1.23.13     Sub-freezing temperatures are starting to feel normal, and today's high of 26 degrees seems almost spring-like!   We've been observing "some kind of dove" for a while, but today it stayed under the feeder long enough to get some really definitive views.  The Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), according to David Sibley, was introduced to the Bahamas in 1974 from Europe and Asia and has expanded its range northward and westward.  It apparently is a hardy bird, having survived recent temperatures. 
         The Short-eared Owl that I reported on a few weeks ago has continued to visit its rock ledge shelter on the northeast porch.  Dissection of two pellets revealed lots of mouse hair, bits of dried vegetative matter, and one object (at 30x magnification) that looked a whole lot like a tick.  I swept up after him this morning; the one pellet crumbled to dust and didn't allow any close inspection.  However, the quantity of scat would indicate that it is finding plenty to eat!

1-22
Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) lends a bit of green to the winter woods. Wintercreeper is an introduced species; an aggressive escape. There are many cultivated varieties, at least two of which grow wild in my neighborhood. Left to its own devices this species will climb and eventually shade out and kill the tree that supports it!
John

1-17
This slender green spider (probably one of the orb weavers) was stiff and cold when I found it atop the snow. However, in the warmth of my kitchen it quickly revived!
John

New tree species found in Dummerston

 This is a leaf from chestnut oak found in East Dummerston. As far as John Anderson knows, this is the first sighting in Dummerston.  It would be unusual for this species to be so far North.  The tree I found it on is probably at least 50 years old.  I will check with other experts to confirm my finding.

Utah 1.14.13

Utah weather contrasts dramatically with Dummerston's today.  John writes about 50 degree temperatures; in Morgan, UT it was -18 this morning, with a high of +10.   The Mountain Cottontail that lives in this neighborhood, finds shelter in gaps in the stone walls and  bounds around the house near the foundation where the snow is most shallow.  On the past few mornings and evenings just at dusk, it feeds underneath the bird feeders.   This little gray rabbit with rather short ears is the smallest of cottontails; its tail is gray above with white underneath. 

The Magpie often stops by just at sunrise; the American Kestrel looks at least double its summer size in its downy parka with head barely sticking out as it assumes his watch atop the leader of a Blue Spruce.  Ice is closing in on a lone Mallard that still paddles at the inlet of the local waterhole where Mule deer can be seen before the sun appears.   Recently, we watched a young Mule deer walk directly to the house where it lay down touching the foundation.  By looking closely, we could see the  long "mule" ears at the bottom of the window. 

1-14
That rare January combination of temperatures near 50 degrees F and dry ground on some south facing exposures made it possible to find a few grouse locusts (Family tetrigidae) today.
This one was basking on dead leaves along the wood's edge in my field, and was warm enough to make several 12 to 18 inch leaps before pausing as if posing for this picture.
Many insects and spiders were moving down in among the leaves and pine needles where temperatures were perhaps as much as 20 degrees higher than the 50 degrees registered in the air.
John