A morning hike much like the past several mornings’ hikes, with sightings of the usual suspects, no great photo opps, nice views, crisp air. But the sky had a few high clouds, and the hike brought us to a Townsend’s Solitaire.

I’ve likely said before how much I love this bird species—arguably my favorite in Utah so far. Unassuming yet well attired, not too flitty, nice eyering, an endearing call, and a lovely, sweet, rambling song. Usually I see them adorning a high branch on whatever scrub oak or juniper they happened to have handy.

Today I found one perched amid thick foliage as dog and ascended Coyote Canyon. It sat still as we crept closer (although clearly the bird knew we were there), and I got some nice photos. It felt like some kind of blessing.

And later, at the grocery store, I had only my fourth American Crow sighting in my six months in Utah. (And only my cawing crow.) Magpies and jays are nice, and all, but I really do miss crows.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:30 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. House Finch** (v)
5. American Goldfinch
6. Rock Pigeon*
7. Dark-eyed Junco
8. Spotted Towhee
9. Townsend’s Solitaire

Elsewhere

10. Eurasian Collared-dove
11. American Crow
12. European Starling

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere