Spring will follow winter…even if it’s a dry winter so far!

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There's an acorn woodpecker in that snag!
There’s an acorn woodpecker in that snag!

As I was returning from the park’s precipitation measuring station this morning (0.8″ of snow, 0.04″ of moisture), I heard a weird loud bird noise coming from the large snag west of the parking lot. It was our resident acorn woodpecker – saying good morning, I suppose. We used to have two of these clownish birds in the park (new for this part of Colorado), but only one seems to be around lately. Yesterday, I heard the song of a mountain chickadee, first one this year – likely a male in early breeding mode. The song is an indication to other males that it is establishing a breeding territory, and/or a call to females out there that he is around and available. The other day, up in Manitou Springs (about 50 miles north of Beulah), I heard the loud call of a flicker. All of this bird music tells me that spring, and nesting, and young birds, are just around the corner. Spring being around the corner implies that it is currently winter, and it has been feeling and looking like winter lately. Last night’s snow brings the winter’s total to 36.3″ of snow so far. This is still very much droughtville, and it’s hard to believe we will reach average by the end of snow season (118″ for Beulah). But, you never know – March and April can be big snow months – statistically, anyway.

 

Springtime in January!

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When I walked to the office this morning, I was glad I had my hat, gloves and a warm jacket on – it was chilly. When I stepped outside around 1pm after a busy stretch in the office, it was like the calendar slipped forward a few months. After several weeks of some pretty chilly temps, we are now in quite the warm phase. These mild, gentle days are easy to enjoy if I just stay in the present – it’s gorgeous outside! But when I see firsthand the extreme lack of snow that accompanies such warm temps, I must admit, it’s a little frightening when I think ahead to summer. Especially after last summer’s extreme heat, numerous wildfires, and minimal amount of rain, while I am enjoying being outside today, I can’t help but wonder what lies ahead. I guess I’ll try to stay in the present and enjoy….but I can’t deny that things seem kind of out-of-whack. jan 22 2012

A blast of Arctic air is visiting the park!

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There is something so invigorating about being out when the the thermometer isn’t too far from 0F. I took these photos on a chilly walk this morning – the park from a distance, and a dried aster in a snowy coat. The sun was trying to make its presence known, but it was a weak one at best. I was dressed to be out and was enjoying the inch of new snow. The clouds have been very stingy with their snow so far this winter, so I welcome any little bit we get as I wait for some big snows.

A COLD morning measuring snow!

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For many years, I have been measuring and submitting to NOAA the amount of precipitation that falls on Pueblo Mountain Park every day.   It has been a pretty boring job over the past many months with the lingering drought. But we did see a total of around a foot and a half of snow fall on the park in December, and a dusting the last couple of days. When I left my home this morning, with the intent of measuring the snow, the thermometer read 1F. Although we hadn’t received and new snow in the last 24 hours, I still needed to measure what the depth of the snow on the ground. I snapped a quick photo of the park’s “weather station,” then measured 5″ of snow on the ground. The lingering cold temps has the snows of December sticking around…I hope we get some more soon so I can strap on some snowshoes or skis and enjoy this winter wonderland!

It’s trying to look and feel like December!

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I wrote in my journal two days ago: “The pond has been trying to become fully ‘frozen’ for several weeks now. Since the second week of November, there has been a back and forth between being rather frozen solid and then melting — sometimes just at the edges, sometimes much of it open water. As November wore on, more and more of the southern part of the pond has remained solid, with the melt/freeze occurring on a smaller and smaller portion of the northern half. It was colder last night (low 20s) and today was cooler — more seasonal — than the ridiculously warm days and nights of late. So, right now, the pond appears to be fully frozen, and just may stay that way for the rest of the winter.” Well, not yet. I just walked down to the pond, and there’s still plenty of unfrozen water all over the pond. The last couple of days have warmed up enough to prevent the ice from being solidly in control. The projection for some cold temps and hopefully some snow this weekend may further the pond’s frozen state…and make it look and feel more like it is actually December in Colorado. I’ve been monitoring the pond’s official frozen date for many years, and this is by far the latest for that cold event (and it’s still not there yet).

Long shadows on a quiet autumn afternoon!

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autumn in the park After a busy day with lots of students from Pueblo’s Bessemer Academy in the park, all is now quiet and serene since the buses left and the sun nears the horizon.  I did hear the tapping of a woodpecker in the snag (on the right in the photo) as I took this photo. The temps are beginning to drop on this peaceful autumn afternoon, and I think I am going to take a long walk and enjoy being outside on such a lovely late afternoon before I head home in just a few minutes.

Halfway through my favorite month, Septober (or Octember)!

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I love this time of year, late September and early October — I call it Septober, or Octember! The days are not so hot, the nights are cooler, the landscape is wearing its colorful autumn wardrobe! On my after-dinner walk last evening, the earthy smells of autumn, with the fallen leaves beginning their decomposition into life-giving soil, and the coolness of the air was like giving my senses a deep  massage. If you haven’t already, get out for walk in Pueblo Mountain Park before too long — I am confident you will be glad you did.  Happy autumn!

Summer showing signs of wear in Pueblo Mountain Park.

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With summer winding down and autumn hinting of its approach, some of the oaks have succumbed to the very dry conditions and went right to brown. But not all of them – I am noticing and enjoying some orange and yellow entering the color scheme of the unfolding autumn landscape. There are also lots of acorns and apples, which the bears are apparently enjoying. Yes, its’ dry out there, but the  park is still a wondeeful place to be. fall oaks

A gloriously cool (& trying to be rainy) day today!

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I am home this afternoon, doing a bit of prep for presenting to City Council for a work session later today, and am so enjoying the overcast skies and relatively cooler temps right outside my door. I can hear a raven calling; I believe he is saying, “Isn’t this cooler weather grand?” Yes, I respond, it is grand.