I see Pine Siskins so rarely that I forget some of their vocalizations. This irruptive species hangs out in both Maine and Utah (turns out, though I hadn’t looked it up until today). On this morning’s snowy hike, I heard a vocal flock of little perching birds and thought they might be siskins—and they were.
(Also, with no small dollop of sheepishness, I must confess to have identified that crazy rising buzzy call I heard a week or so ago.)
Other highlights: the Canyon Wren calling from the gulch, a Sharp-shinned hawk (possibly a pair) causing the siskins to scatter, a nice array of mule deer—and just a lovely hike with dog.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 11 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. House Finch (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
5. Canyon Wren (v)
6. Northern Flicker**
7. Dark-eyed Junco
8. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
9. Pine Siskin
10. Sharp-shinned Hawk
Elsewhere
12. American Robin
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, canyon wren, dark-eyed junco, house finch, lesser goldfinch, northern flicker, pine siskin, sharp-shinned hawk, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
