Before dog and I had even topped the switchback this morning, I heard the croak of a raven. Saw it flap overhead and disappear behind the bluff and figured I’d missed a decent photo. But as soon as we reached the bluff ourselves, I glanced over to a high stone that I saw ravens perched on last year—and there it was. (Or perhaps its mate.) Took it as a good sign on a day I’d be receiving my final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Another portent: I happened to spy a lone coyote up near where lurked a few mule deer. The coyote was about 200 yards up a snowy slope, but we watched each other for a good little bit of time.
Later, on our descent, I’d turned my attention to a cottontail nibbling grass just below the bluff when a loud voice wailed from not very far up the trail from us. Then a few more voices joined in. Then a whole chorus of singing coyotes.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:19 a.m. (8:19 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Spotted Towhee
2. Dark-eyed Junco
3. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
4. House Finch**
5. American Robin* (v)
6. Common Raven
7. Song Sparrow** (v)
8. Rock Pigeon*
9. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
10. Black-capped Chickadee**
11. Black-billed Magpie**
12. Northern Flicker (v)
Elsewhere
13. European Starling
14. Mourning Dove
15. California Gull
Mammals
Mule Deer
Mountain Coyote
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
