Environment:
Start Time: 8:30 AM Temperature: 34 degrees Sky: Sunshine.
I finally got out on the trail for my first December walk. Things started out kind of chilly but it was quite comfortable walking by the time I called it a day. I’m still surprised by how few ducks we have out on the Arkansas River. And, even though I did see a Cooper’s Hawk, there seems to be a real shortage of hawks as well. Featured is a Great Horned Owl snoozing at its favorite spot. I was thinking of giving it a name but then wondered if it had given me a name. I probably don’t want to know. Pictured here is a Northern Flicker who picked the perfect place to fluff up its feathers – and be photographed. The American Kestrel was spotted a little further down the trail. At post bottom is a Greater Yellowlegs that I was lucky enough to spot trying its luck on the river. I’ve seen these several times on the river but they are by no means a common sight.
Sightings:
Birds: Mallards, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneye, Gadwall, Canada Geese, Greater Yellowlegs, Gulls, White-crowned Sparrows, Sparrows, Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Great Horned Owl, Cooper’s Hawk, Wild Turkeys, Northern Flicker, American Kestrel
Critters: Mule Deer
Gear: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Lumix 100-300mm, Olympus EE-1 Dot Sight
