45 degrees in january…January! That’s how warm it has been in northwestern Montana lately. The birds were appropriately enjoying the sun. All 3 species of nuthatch were actively calling and feeding in the ponderosa pines and cottonwoods as Northern Flickers both called and drummed. Common Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser were all displaying as well. Everything must have thought that spring had come early…maybe it has. The female Greater Scaup continues to be in residence at Pond 6. She was surrounded by a host of Gadwalls and Ring-necked Ducks.
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eBird Checklist
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | 250 | |
| Gadwall (Anas strepera) | 20 | |
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 50 | |
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 15 | |
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | 25 | Good concentrations in the open on Pond 6 |
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 8 | |
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | 1 | This female is still hanging out |
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | 10 | |
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | 3 | |
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | 1 | |
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | 6 | |
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | 4 | |
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | 25 | |
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | 2 | |
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 8 | |
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | 1 | |
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | 12 | |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | 4 | |
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | 3 | |
| Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) | 4 |