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Patti Muzny, newsletter editor

Patti's Chirpings
by Patti Muzny

After a period of unseasonably warm weather, Oklahoma finally experienced its first “real” cold snap.  And chilly it was, along with freezing rain, sleet and snow.  With the chill came a few new feeder visitors, even to our relatively sterile city back yard. 

Our first juncos and a Harris’s Sparrow made their South Oklahoma City appearances the day after the wind quit howling and the snow stopped blowing.  It’s always a treat to watch the feeders after a snow/ice storm.   

Cabin fever had descended upon the Muznys and the weekend of the snow storm, we headed for the cabin.  I didn’t think I had cabin fever, but once we cleared Norman and were able to see the fields covered with snow without buildings in the way, I knew I’d seriously missed being out in the country. 

At our Byars feeder, where we received around 6-7 inches of snow, we were delighted to find as many as five Fox Sparrows scratching under the feeder where the snow had melted, along with many Juncos and a few White-throated Sparrows.  The Carolina Wrens were also at the feeder, as were American Goldfinches and the usual Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Titmice, Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches. 

This weekend was a quiet one for us – our nature girls stayed in OKC.  Several inches of snow still blanketed the ground, and muted even sounds of traffic along the highway.  I put on my hiking boots, binoculars and hiked around the property in the snow.   

Although the temperature was in the low 30’s, the sun was brilliant and just perfect for a hike in the snow.  I enjoy the crunch of boots in snow and watching the snow-covered ground for the tracks of the wildlife that went before me.  There was evidence of bobcat, ‘possum, raccoon, rabbit, deer, squirrel, and birds. 

We usually don’t actually see many cottontails on our property, but after a snow, it’s amazing to discover the evidence of them in the snow.  Bunny tracks were everywhere, even around and under the cabin.  The deer had been everywhere, too. 

As I hiked through the woods I heard soft fussy chirps in the trees above.  I stopped and located a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets foraging nearby.  One of them briefly perched in a shaft of sunlight and flared his ruby crown just as I located him with my binoculars.  I needed sunglasses!   Although that fiery red-orange and brilliant yellow crown is tiny, once sighted, it always seems to bring forth a “wow!”   

Brian saw a flock of unidentified Longspurs (maybe Smith’s?) in the neighbor’s pasture and he also heard Western Meadowlarks.  The Red-shouldered Hawk was seen and heard and the Pileated Woodpecker joined the chorus of hawk complaining.  Our first Cedar Waxwings were found as well. We still haven’t found any Hermit Thrushes for this winter.  

Our total number of species for that Sunday afternoon was 30.