I’m kinda diggin’ it here in the high desert. Not as many bird species as on the coast of Maine, where varied ecosystems butt up against each other. This is the high desert—and that’s that.
However, the birds are here. Bird life adapts to high, dry places like this. And this day—despite my continued feeling of guilt for leaving my dog Jack at home—brought plenty of interesting sightings. A sharpie circling right at the start, for instance. No eagles or solitaires, but a surprise Downy Woodpecker.
Cloudless and not too cold. Burned a bunch of calories and returned high on endorphins. No regrets but one (no Jack).
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 12:15 p.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. Sharp-shinned Hawk
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. House Finch*
5. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
6. Dark-eyed Junco** (v)
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
8. Downy Woodpecker
9. Canyon Wren (v)
Elsewhere
10. Eurasian Collared Dove
11. Northern Flicker (v)
13. Song Sparrow
14. House Sparrow
15. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, canyon wren, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, northern flicker, ruby-crowned kinglet, sharp-shinned hawk, song sparrow, Woodhouse’s scrub-jay
