A lovely, fair, warmish morning to be on a hike with dog. No sweatshirt today, temps on the 50s (F), slight breeze. Fair number of bird species, but nothing big or fierce or outlandish. Mostly just the little guys.
But I like the little guys. There’s something to be said for a hike like today’s—one that’s brimming with intimate encounters.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:04 a.m. (9:04 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie** 2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 3. House Finch 4. Rock Pigeon* 5. Northern Flicker 6. Dark-eyed Junco 7. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 9. American Robin 10. Yellow-rumped Warbler (v)
Elsewhere
11. House Sparrow (v) 12. Song Sparrow
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Another cool morning, but brighter than last. Another nice supply of migrants. Another glimpse of a Steller’s Jay. Not the photo ops of yesterday’s magnificent hike—but dog and I enjoyed it just fine.
In fact, in chasing the jay, we veered off our usual course for quite a distance (and increase in altitude). It was a shy yet vocal bird, and it mimicked the voice of a Red-tailed Hawk perfectly.
Already looking forward to what tomorrow might bring.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:56 a.m. (8:56 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
A chilly morning with a hazy sun, my best dog friend, and a nice gang of interesting birds.
The most interesting I heard before I saw it: Shook-shook-shook-shook-shook! It’s a call I didn’t know until I moved out here to the Mountain West, but I recognized it at once as a Steller’s Jay. There were four of them, flapping about in the scrub oaks near the bluff. I see them rarely, photograph them more rarely, but one of these was obliging.
And I am grateful.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:54 a.m. (9:54 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch** 2. Pine Siskin 3. Dark-eyed Junco 4. Northern Flicker 5. American Robin 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Yellow-rumped Warbler 8. Downy Woodpecker 9. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v) 10. Black-billed Magpie** (v) 11. Rock Pigeon* 12. Steller’s Jay 13. Spotted Towhee (v) 14. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Elsewhere
12. House Sparrow 13. European Starling 17. Song Sparrow
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
