Torpor

Fewer tracks and movement above ground these days it. As the season turns colder, torpor sets in and more creaturely activity appears to go underground where no doubt it's cozier and more temperate for all concerned. Questions arise: how to determine what creature made this hole vs. another? Will I eventually be able to tell a burrowing owl's den from a rat's or a tarantula's? What all shares these holes? How much activity goes on underground in this season? How extensive are the burrows and tunnels?

Bird identification success: a male house finch. I know, big whoop, but I love birds and want to know them better. I used to have several feeders around but have reduced them to hummingbird feeders: I have a cat who doesn't understand that I want him to patrol for mice and packrats but leave the birds alone.

Unusual or infrequent track sighting: an ungulate, in this case, a small deer. Haven't seen a deer or its track in this area since I moved here. This one walked the road right by my property.