Perfect hiking weather, 60’s during the day, 30’s at night. Stars have been spectacular, although the moon is beginning to dim them. For the next two weeks as the moon waxes and wanes back to this point it’s very bright when out walking at night, and you don’t need a flashlight.
Birds have been very interesting — a Varied Thrush near the second stream crossing in South Fork, and good birds at the Ranch, too. We’ve had Black-chinned Sparrows at the feeders, as well as both Myrtle and Audubon’s Yellow-rumped warblers, Fox Sparrow, Juncos, Painted Redstart, and lots of Pine Siskins and Lesser Goldfinch. The Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, and Cactus Wren are beginning to tune up for spring.