Saturday's Critters

A female Mallard duck, one Redhead male duck and lots of Coots, which aren't ducks but are actually close relatives of the Sandhill Crane.  We only see the Redhead ducks on our mountain lakes in these mountains in the winter. 

Two Buffleheads stand out in this photo.  They're also a winter visitor to the lakes up here, migrating to Canada and Alaska in the summer to breed. 


Our winter visitors are about the only sign that winter has actually come to these mountains.  No snow, no rain (10 months now without rain) and temperatures that are way too warm for January.  It's 58 degrees right now.  We're supposed to get up to an inch and a half of rain this Tuesday and Wednesday, with snow above the 6,500 foot level, but I'll believe that when I see it.  Meanwhile, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather forecasters are right this time! 


To see more beautiful birds, click here