On a short walk New Years Day I came across the tracks of an Opossum also taking a short walk. Opossum don’t like deep snow and this one did not spend much time in it, coming out only to circle around the pile of construction debris it seems to be wintering under.
The picture above shows a good front foot track.
While looking at the tracks I heard what at first sounded a lot like a tree frog, a loud twittering call coming closer. I am not an experienced birder so was eager to see who the sound was attached to. This little Carolina Wren (or so I identified it as, please correct me if I am wrong) came right up to me singing away. It changed its song from the twitter to several other call like sounds which may have been alarms or scolding calls at me.
I had been scolded before by a pair of wrens at my old sit spot so was expecting this one’s partner to come along to check me out as before. When the bird pictured below showed up seconds after the first one left I assumed in my ignorance it was the mate of the first. It had a different call but I assumed that it was the female and had a less flashy vocalization.
Turns out it was a different species altogether, Winter Wren. They were the only birds I saw that day.
In the woods were some Bobcat tracks.
And these turkey tracks.
They are quite “K” shaped. That shape is usually ascribed to Zygodactyl footed birds like Owl’s and (at least some) Woodpeckers. This created some doubt for me but shortly I found long strides over a great distance, something only a ground bird would leave behind.
that does look like a Carolina Wren according to my bird book. the Winter Wren is beautiful.
Thanks for the double check. I looked at your blog, it is full of wonderful pictures.
thank you very much.
I agree, Carolina and Winter Wren — nice photos!