A warmish—high-30s (F)—overcast morning, last one before a stretch of precipitation (or so they say). Didn’t know what to expect to find up the switchback. Turned out to be a good day.
Along with the usual winter birds, I heard the solitaire again, then spied three soaring eagles, then heard (and saw) more robins, then encountered more deer than yesterday, and finally just stood on the trail and watched as a nice-sized flock of redpolls showed up.
Seems my redpoll reports are appearing in eBird as rare sightings. Today, I saw more than ever. Certainly a nice little irruption of the species this winter this year.
Depending on the weather, I might end my two-plus-year hiking streak tomorrow. We shall see, dog and I.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 09:36 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch* (v)
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Rock Pigeon
5. Black-billed Magpie**
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Townsend’s Solitaire (v)
8. Golden Eagle
9. American Robin*
10. Common Redpoll
Elsewhere
11. Song Sparrow (v)
12. Spotted Towhee (v)
Mammals
Red Squirrel
Mountain Cottontail
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
