Got cold overnight. Somewhere in the 30s (F), with a brisk breeze. I wore a scarf on my hike with Jack, who wore his usual fur coat.
Didn’t see or hear a bird for many minutes, and then only faint clues to finch or flicker or towhee. But somewhere around half-way along, things changed. Chickadees began to call, and a couple of Juniper Titmouse, and a bunch of Dark-eyed Juncos, and a pair of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Before long, it was all I could do to keep count.
Not complaining, mind you. It was one of those pleasantly surprising, unexpectedly successful birding excursions—even built to a nice crescendo (a large flock of juncos at the end). All in all, a very good day.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:45 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker
2. House Finch**
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Spotted Towhee
5. Dark-eyed Junco
6. Lesser Goldfinch
7. Juniper Titmouse
8. Black-billed Magpie
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. Downy Woodpecker
11. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
12. White-crowned Sparrow (v)
13. American Robin*
14. Mourning Dove
Elsewhere
16. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, house finch, juniper titmouse, lesser goldfinch, mourning dove, northern flicker, rock pigeon, ruby-crowned kinglet, spotted towhee, white-crowned sparrow, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
