As I sit here watching light snow fall and the temperature hover around 20 degrees, I think back two days when I was a little peevcd about birding in the hot sun and windy, dusty conditions along Del Dios Gorge Trail, a ten-mile trail popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and runners. The Santa Anna winds were stirring up dust and the birds were laying low — but I knew I’d be back in Vermont in two days so I decided to enjoy the warm walk.

It was tough to steady the camera in the stiff wind but this Cassin’s Kingbird was cooperative.

Later up the trail, I saw a couple of Say’s Phoebes.

This was the last warm weather birding for me for a few months and it was a good outing. After a long trip home, we are once again watching winter birds at the feeder.