late December

Christmas was quite an event. We spent 2 1/2 days making a variety of appetizers, soup, dips, and party food for the Christmas Eve dinner. Our 5 guests were very appreciative and photographed the holiday table. Sunday we attended a church service, went caroling at a nursing home, and visited with some of her relatives. A very nice day.
.......Snowy Owls are being reported in Colorado !! A week ago one was seen in the NE corner of the state, for 2 days, and disappeared. Monday we drove south to Aurora following another report of a Snowy at the dam for Aurora Reservoir. Several housing developments have been built along the water, so we wended our way thru the narrow streets looking for a view across the frozen reservoir. At our 3rd stop we met some birders who confirmed the owl had moved to the south. We found our way back thru the subdivisions to a walking/ biking path. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon to be walking across a snow-covered field. It really did look like tundra in some places. No Snowy Owl appeared.
......Tuesday, after some errands, we stopped at St Vrain State Park for an hour of duck watching. Redheads, Buffleheads, Ring necked Ducks, a Canvasback, and a few Northern Shovelers. Robins and Song Sparrows surprised me. Late afternoon we returned to Latham Marsh and were treated to a show by the Short-eared Owls. Female Northern Harriers were looking for dinner as well.

Photos of the Short eared Owl, and the Harrier. photo credits to Nina Hansen.

pre-Christmas

We continue to find additional ways to save our birdseed from the squirrels. Greasing the poles with Vaseline does work, if the pole is in the center of the yard. A squirrel ate an entire peanut butter suet cake before I greased the poles. The finches' favorite feeder is close to the fence, within jumping distance of the squirrels. I have tried to tilt the large squirrel baffle toward the fence to present as much barrier as possible. Nina said a squirrel came in anyway.
........A month ago she purchased a "live trap" similar to the devices I used as a student. While the peanut butter is attractive, the squirrels are too smart to go inside to eat it. Inserting a paw thru the wire mesh will spring the trap, but does not result in a food reward. The squirrels on the porch at the seed tray look at me thru the glass door trying to pretend they are too cute to scare away. They know they are being bad.
.........Our Christmas tree is absolutely amazing. 7 feet high, its a good artificial tree with abundant branches. She will place several balls on a branch starting near the trunk and coming toward the tip. My 2 boxes of ornaments is dwarfed by her 8 or 10 boxes. We only used half of her strings of lights, about 12 or 13. The boxes of plastic gold snowflakes are really tacky, but she likes them. Fortunately the boxes of garlands were not found, so the ornaments are not as hidden as they would be otherwise. Truly the most highly decorated tree I have ever been involved with.
Sunday night we went to a performance of Handel's Messiah. They played selected portions of the Messiah. The chorus was very good, as was the orchestra. My mind picked out the violin pieces. I remember that piece and that piece. My sister played violin in a Messiah orchestra, probably more than once.
........Birders in central Colorado study Gulls in the Winter. I have learned of a place about 20 miles away to go to see Gulls. Ring-billeds are most common, Herring, California, Thayer's can usually be seen. A large Glaucous Gull towered over the others. Bonaparte's, Lesser Black-backed and Iceland are occasionally found.
Photo of a Thayer's Gull, credit to Nina Hansen, and her wonderful camera.

another Elk

This bull Elk was seen from a viewpoint in Rocky Mt Park. Photo of the reservoir is a typical scene in the grasslands.