Day of the Juncos-Dawn at The Cabin

Clear and cold with a full moon...mid 20s

- Two deer walk up the roadway in front of the cabin...the same doe and yearling I have seen numerous times. What caught my eye this morning through the binoculars was that the yearling had distinct anatomical variations from the mother...the ears were shorter, and most distinctly seen was the tail...it was about half the size (length) as the mother. Even in slight alarm mode, with the tail raised, it was quite noticeable. Variation within the local Odocoileus? The yearling had a tail that looked a lot like the western Mule Deer, though the ears were much shorter than the mule deer.
- 15-20 Slate-Colored (Northern) Juncos were beneath the feeders...and having a grand time of it scratching in the leaves and enjoying the thistle and SF seeds.
- The Goldfinches were here
- A Black Capped Chickadee made an appearance, but, as usual did not stay long...a mystery...as these small gregarious birds usually love feeders in winter.
- The Mourning Doves arrive at dawn...several of them, as many as 8-10 at a time
- Split wood yesterday afternoon...takes me back to another time and another place....
- The same two Nuthatches....they do put on a show.