Dog and I headed up the mountain a little early this morning, as an overcast swept in quickly following a clear dawn. Tonight we’re supposed to receive the leading edge of a snow storm—one that is forecast to last more than 24 hours. Tomorrow’s hike could prove an adventure.
Today’s was quiet, warm, gray. No elk, few deer, but plenty of birds up there—including the usual corvids, chickadees, flickers, and a large flock of starlings. Also a distant golden eagle.
Plenty of birds in the neighborhood, too, among them the resident singing song sparrow—and the first mourning dove I’ve seen in a while.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 9 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.
1. European Starling*
2. House Finch*
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Black-billed Magpie*
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
6. Song Sparrow* (v)
7. Golden Eagle
8. Northern Flicker
9. Dark-eyed Junco
Elsewhere
10. Mourning Dove
11. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
12. American Robin (v)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, European starling, golden eagle, house finch, lesser goldfinch, mourning dove, northern flicker, song sparrow, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
