Today I walked in the north, the less-visited side of Powers Creek Valley in Glen Canyon Regional Park. I paused where several dead Ponderosa Pines had been topped to provide nesting sites for birds. There a pair of Pygmy Nuthatches were busily investigating potential nest sites .Their breeding season is just beginning. I had a good view of their activities from my seat on the hillside, about level with the tree holes that the birds were investigating. Such nest holes may be used and reused in successive years.

We have three species of nuthatches in this area, the Red-breasted, White-breasted and the Pygmy. The Pygmy Nuthatch is most abundant, found always where there are Ponderosa Pines.

I had walked this route also on Saturday--made a complete loop from our residence at Westwood--then over the hill past the school, across the playing fields into the park and from there to the park entrance from Brown Road, returning via Brown Road to Westwood. On my way, I came upon a Red Squirrel that appeared to be hiding, trying his best to look just like a bump on a tree branch. But when I stopped and raised my camera, he turned and looked at me, as if to say, "Can't a fellow have a little privacy?"

Several robins vied for the opportunity to bathe in a puddle on the road.