Woke up this morning to -17 degrees, the rather frigid start to the annual Bozeman Christmas Bird Count. After meeting my fellow intrepid birders at Perkins for a little greasy breakfast, we headed out in the milky morning twilight for a the birding day. I was teamed up with 3 great folks, George, Paulette and Matt. Started the morning by working the lower reaches of our territory. We went into a trailer park that was infested, okay a little too strong, with Eurasian Collared Doves. But my God, they were everywhere! At Cherry River ponds, Paulette lead us to a couple of staked-out Green-winged Teals (an unusual bird for this particular count circle) The majority of the rest of the day consisted of the usual cast of avian characters seen from the car or in bold runs, I stress runs, along a trail or two.

Along the foothills of the Bridgers, we turned up American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, and American Tree Sparrows.

Later in the day we made our way to Fish Technology Center, where we picked up 4 important new species; a immature Golden Eagle, up to 10 American Robins, a lone American Dipper, and a wholly unexpected Wilson’s Snipe that flushed up out of Bridger Creek. The day ended with temperatures hovering around 15 below zero. 35 species and a great day in the company of great folks.