On this cool, breezy, overcast morning, dog and I embarked on a long climb. Decided to fulfill a promise I’d been making for a while—specifically, “We’re gonna climb up to that ridge one of these days.”
And we did.
I’d guess it was at least double our usual ascent, and with a much more expansive view. After we topped the rocky ridge, we got a look at a little dip beyond, where about a dozen elk were grazing. It was a fun hike.
Back down in our usual haunts, I spied my first-of-year Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 9:15 a.m. (DST), I hiked several hundred feet up the mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. House Finch*
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Dark-eyed Junco
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
6. Spotted Towhee
7. Chukar (v)
8. American Robin*
9. Northern Flicker
10. Ruby-crowned Kinglet†
Elsewhere
11. Song Sparrow (v)
12. European Starling
13. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
14. Red-tailed Hawk
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, chukar, dark-eyed junco, Europan starling, house finch, lesser goldfinch, northern flicker, red-tailed hawk, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
