We’re supposed to have a three-day Thanksgiving week “winter” storm tomorrow through Friday, but today’s weather was bright and delightful. Among the delights was a layer of about four inches of fluffy snow, seven bird species along the trail, a photogenic finch, and my first good look at a whitened high desert—first of many, I’m sure.

(Only slipped once, and didn’t pitch over a cliff, so I count that as successful also.)

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.

1. Black-billed Magpie* (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. American Goldfinch**
4. House Finch*
5. Dark-eyed Junco
6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
7. Northern Flicker (v)

Elsewhere
8. Rock Pigeon

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere