Got to the trailhead in late morning, dog and I. Warmish by then—mid- to high-30s (F)—and with a herringbone sky. Distant elk to the north, plenty of the usual little birds about the lower slopes.
The drama came at the end of things, when I happened to catch sight of a plain gray bird flitting amid the berry-laden boughs of juniper around the gulch (where the dead young deer lies). Right away I knew it was a Townsend’s Solitaire.
I kind of have a crush on these unassuming western thrushes—their wide-eyed look, their prim posture, their subtly alluring voices. This bird just gave a few peeps while diving into the greenery and back out again, plucking (and often dropping) berries, perching for a photo or two.
Already looking forward to my next sighting.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 11 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. Black-billed Magpie*
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Dark-eyed Junco
5. House Finch**
6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
7. Northern Flicker (v)
8. Lesser Goldfinch**
9. European Starling*
10. Townsend’s Solitaire
Elsewhere
11. Song Sparrow
Mammals
Rocky Mountain Elk
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, European starling, house finch, lesser goldfinch, northern flicker, song sparrow, Townsend’s solitaire, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
