13 November 2024

Archive for January, 2022

Eagles

Monday, January 31st, 2022
Bald Eagle, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 31 January 2022.
Bald Eagle.

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

Sparrow

Sunday, January 30th, 2022
Song Sparrow, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 30 January 2022.
Backyard Song Sparrow.

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.

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

Elsewhere

10. House Sparrow (v)

Mammals

Red Squirrel
Mule Deer

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

Cloudless

Saturday, January 29th, 2022
Lesser Goldfinch, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 29 January 2022.
Lesser Goldfinch.

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

 
Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson



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