Hawks are not uncommon around here, rather they’re intermittent. I might se one a day for two or three days, then none for a week. Then I might have a day with three.
Today I had one of those.
Mostly overcast, a storm brewing, a gusty breeze, a dramatic sky, and hardly any obvious birds during my entire hike with dog: eleven species, but only a couple dozen individuals. Two of the individuals were raptors.
The first was an adult Bald Eagle I spied way, way way up above the ridge, riding the breeze. The other was a Red-tailed Hawk, nose to tdhe wind, hovering occasionally. [Aside: I don’t believe I’d ever a redtail hover before.]
Later, from my deck, I spied another hawk—another redtail. Watched it soar and circle—then suddenly veer over and down to perch on utility pole.
I wonder how much snow we’ll get this time around.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:48 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 2. Black-billed Magpie** 3. Dark-eyed Junco 4. Rock Pigeon 5. American Robin* (v) 6. Bald Eagle 7. Spotted Towhee 8. Downy Woodpecker 9. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 10. Red-tailed Hawk* 11. Pine Siskin (v)
Elsewhere
12. European Starling
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
This first day of winter dawned warmer than any day in the past couple weeks, at least—upper-30s (F), maybe low-40s. Mostly clear, with a dappled sky. Mud mixed with ice on the trails.
Dog and I were the only ones of our species on the trail this morning, a trail that deer had walked not long before. Plenty of birds about (if not a whole bunch of species). A few even posed for photos. But my thrillingest thrill of this solstitial day was when I heard the territorial notes of a Townsend’s Solitaire.
Same place as I’d seen a solitaire several times the past week or two: coming up the wooded gully of little Coyote Canyon, whose shade had kept the snow from melting. I slowed at once, snuck slowly up the trail, scanned the tips of trees, where I know solitaires like to perch. It’s a stalk I’ve done more than once before.
On a curve in the trail, I spied it high atop a juniper tree.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:45 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch** 2. Spotted Towhee 3. Black-billed Magpie* 4. Juniper Titmouse (v) 5. Dark-eyed Junco 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 7. Cassin’s Finch 8. Downy Woodpecker 9. Rock Pigeon* 10. Pine Siskin (v) 11. Black-capped Chickadee 12. Northern Flicker** 13. Townsend’s Solitaire 14. American Robin (v)
Elsewhere
15. European Starling
Mammals
Mule Deer Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Had a nice hike with Jack this morning, as always. Aside from two ravens in fast flight, the usual bird species. (Lots of juncos.) Beautiful scenery—snow-powdered peaks under mostly cloudy skies. But the most bird action happened right around the house. Specifically on and below my deck.
The deck faces west, with a nice view of the basin (city lights at night) and, beyond, the Oquirrh Mountains. On the deck rail today—three noisy scrub-jays and a junco. Below, a towhee, finches, more juncos. On the utility lines between me and I-215, starlings, pigeons, and a Mourning Dove.
The last full day of fall was a good one, and daylight gets longer starting tomorrow.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:49 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie* 2. House Finch** 3. Common Raven 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay* 5. Spotted Towhee* (v) 6. Pine Siskin (v) 7. Rock Pigeon* 8. Black-capped Chickadee 9. Dark-eyed Junco* 10. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
Elsewhere
11. American Robin (v) 12. Mourning Dove 13. Northern Flicker 14. European Starling
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
