What an unexpectedly action-packed hike this morning—bird action, that is. All started quietly (breezy, cool, mountain-shady), but as soon as we topped the switchback, dog and I, we found ourselves surrounded. By birds, that is.
A flock of a dozen towhees. Finches and robins and juncos and a flicker and a singing White-crowned Sparrow (immature), all within view at once. A Red-tailed Hawk on the utility pole I check every morning in case there’s a red-tail perching there. (Been at least a couple months.) Another Steller’s Jay up in the junipers.
Speaking of junipers, though, the little bird that stands out most is the chattery, nondescript Juniper Titmouse we happened upon. It’s only been a couple weeks or so since I saw my first of this species, but after a sighting or two nearly every day since, I now know what to look and listen for.
And today, one flitted up right in front of me and posed.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:34 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker**
2. Black-billed Magpie*
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Spotted Towhee
5. Dark-eyed Junco
6. House Finch*
7. American Robin
8. White-crowned Sparrow
9. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
10. Downy Woodpecker
11. Red-tailed Hawk
12. Lesser Goldfinch**
13. Yellow-rumped Warbler (v)
14. Juniper Titmouse
15. Black-capped Chickadee
16. Mourning Dove*
17. Steller’s Jay
18. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
19. Pine Siskin
Elsewhere
20. Eurasian Collared Dove
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, juniper titmouse, lesser goldfinch, mourning dove, northern flicker, pine siskin, red-breasted nuthatch, red-tailed hawk, ruby-crowned kinglet, spotted towhee, Steller’s jay, white-crowned sparrow, Woodhouse’s scrub jay, yellow-rumped warbler
