favorites

yes, favorites...

in the past i've been excited to see the Lazuli Buntings return-- hit our feeder, perch on the wire there. They stay for 1-2 weeks only that I remember, but are fantastic in their coloring and I've happy they stop at all. Also the western tanager. And the blue of the mountain bluebird. The yellow in the brush of the American Goldfinch. (In the spring, their winter colors are much muted.)

These all birds I know from the past. But the new ones I've noticing this year-- most suddenly pop up to favorite status for a bit...

The Dipper-- I've seen him in the past. Solitary guy. Hangs out at the creek, doing his little quick knee-bends, on a beat. With his quick chirps alerting you as to his whereabouts. Another dip, then another, then boom! he's jumped in and disappeared. Sometimes kayaking down, underwater at least a part of it. Happy in the snow, alone, but maybe appreciating the audience. We've seen him at our park in Morrison, but yesterday up on the South Platte near Foxton as well, on a warming January day. River frozen enough that we could walk up and down it. Thinking it'd be nice to return again today to take a proper walk up or down it for the morning. But probably won't, due to the drive and the intention to head another direction in search of Balds, and to ID that brown, clearly-marked duck of which I saw many the other day at Cormorant Island of Clear Creek-- markings so distinctive it seems ridiculous I haven't figured out what it is yet, but nonetheless there's nothing like it in either of my main books (Audubon and Peterson guides).