And an adventure it was! Light snow showers overnight had whitened things by the time Jack and I hit the trails (a bit late, I must confess). Had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised.
Was flurrying lightly when we we topped the switchback. I already had six species when I spied a thrush nibbling on Russian olives. Stumped me for a minute, what with the snow and overcast—so it was a nice little thrill wen I recognized it as a female Mountain Bluebird.
There were three others with it. Two pair. Grabbed some photos and ventured on.
Encountered no other humans or dogs, but we did surprise a big handsome coyote, which loped silently up a ravine and out of sight. Then, up in the junipers, we rounded a rocky outcrop to the sight of a bunch more Mountain Bluebirds. A flock of more than two dozen, by my count.
I’d seen only three in my life before today.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:46 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch*
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. Pine Siskin
4. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
5. Spotted Towhee**
6. Mourning Dove
7. Mountain Bluebird
8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
9. Song Sparrow (v)
10. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
11. Black-billed Magpie
12. American Goldfinch
13. Juniper Titmouse (v)
14. Dark-eyed Junco
Mammals
Red Squirrel
Mountain Coyote
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American goldfinch, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, house finch, lesser goldfinch, mountain bluebird, mountain coyote, mourning dove, pine siski, red squirrel, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub-jay
