
As forecast, the day dawned chilly. And by “chilly,” I mean a temperature of about 16 degrees (F), with a 20-mile-an-hour “breeze.” Gotta confess, I waited until the sun topped the ridge before we hit the trailhead, Jack and me.
Good choice. The sun at this altitude seems to warm the air at least 10 degrees, and along the trail under the ridge, the air was calm. Also, there were birds aplenty. Not an outlandish number of species, but a nice count overall. Plus, I got a decent photo or two.
Gonna warm up through the week, if the forecasts are to be believed.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 9:31 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Pine Siskin
2. House Finch
3. Spotted Towhee
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
5. Dark-eyed Junco
6. Juniper Titmouse
7. American Robin* (v)
8. Black-billed Magpie
9. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
10. Northern Flicker
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, house finch, juniper titmouse, northern flicker, pine siskin, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub-ay