3-toed woodpecker

[Dave Hanscom <hanscom at cs dot utah dot edu>]

For those of you who enjoy cross country skiing or snowshoeing, there's a 
3-toed woodpecker hanging out by the Beaver Creek Trail up on the Mirror
Lake Highway.  He's about a half mile above the second parking area (the
one near the small barn that's visible from the highway).  The bird was
pecking at a pine tree on the south side of the trail.  I put a piece of
pink flagging on the north side of the trail at the spot I saw him today.
There was also a downy nearby, which offered a nice contrast.  Both birds
seemed totally oblivious to my presence, even though I wasn't more than
20 feet away as I observed each of them.

Quite a surprise for me.  I didn't know they hung around during the 
winter.

My wife also saw a brown creeper, but I missed him.  Just like the one I 
missed a week ago in City Creek with the Salt Lake Birders.  I seem to be 
jinxed on creepers - didn't see any in 2005.  Gotta get one of those 
little guys in 2006!

Dave Hanscom
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