I do believe I had a first this morning – viewing Barrow’s Goldeneye at Winslow Park WITHOUT gloves and with an unzipped jacket. This is certainly not the norm for viewing Barrow’s Goldeneye at Winslow Park on January 20th!

Now, I am not usually one to complain about the weather – and in fact birders as a whole are not usually complaining about the weather as some of the miserable weather than most people complain about is often quite good for birding. But, I am going to complain now! IT’S TOO WARM OUT! I want snow. I want to go cross-country skiing, and snowshowing, and I want to freeze my butt off looking at masses of waterfowl concentrated in the channel at the end of Winslow Park after the rest of the Harraseeket has frozen over! I want snow cover to concentrate sparrow at my feeders! I don’t want an extra mud season! And I really would have liked some deep snow to cushion the fall of my spotting scope this morning! In other words, I want JANUARY IN MAINE!

Granted, I thoroughly enjoy not wearing 127 layers to walk the dog and I am glad the oil truck is actually able to make it up our driveway again . . . but, I really do like winter!

This is just not normal: Snow Cover Map

OK, I am done whining now . . .

Did I mention how gorgeous Barrow’s Goldeneyes are in brilliant bright sunlight…especially when you can look through your scope without the vibration caused by one’s shivering?