Started up the switchback a little later than the past few days. The morning was warmer—right about freezing—and the birds seemed to like the (brief) reprieve: dozens of juncos, singing finches, vocal jays, a pair of eagles—the cool thing being the eagles were of differing species.
First I happened to spy a high-flying Golden Eagle circling above the cairn ridge, then ten or fifteen minutes saw it again—that is, I assumed it was the same bird. Turned out to be a Bald Eagle (a species I see far less frequently than goldens).
The bald appeared just to be passing through.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 09:37 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie** 2. House Finch* 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. Rock Pigeon* 5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 6. Dark-eyed Junco 7. Golden Eagle 8. Lesser Goldfinch 9. Townsend’s Solitaire (v) 10. Bald Eagle
Elsewhere
11. Song Sparrow (v) 12. Spotted Towhee
Mammals
Red Squirrel Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
A morning much like the last three, or four, or five. Bright sun, nippy temperatures, icy trails, bad air in the basin—and enough wildlife to draw dog’s and my attention.
A few robins have been hanging out. Chickadees and finches have been singing. Winter’s closing in on half over.
No birds would pose for my camera today, though, but I found an obliging sparrow at home.
I do love Song Sparrows. I’d like to thank them from being close by.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 09:24 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
For a Saturday, the foothills were rather lonesome this morning. Dog and I encountered a trail runner we pass frequently, but otherwise just some deer and a nice little gang of birds.
The most abundant species? Dark-eyed Junco—flitting about in the twiggy scrub oak and munching on grass seed and such. Also a little gang of goldfinches, some chickadees, and the usual pair of corvids.
All under an exceptionally cloudless sky.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 09:18 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. House Finch** 3. American Robin* (v) 4. Black-billed Magpie 5. Rock Pigeon* 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 7. Dark-eyed Junco 8. Northern Flicker (v) 9. Lesser Goldfinch** 10. Pine Siskin (v)
Elsewhere
11. American Kestrel
Mammals
Red Squirrel Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere