Yesterday I decided we’d hike the ridge trail on Thanksgiving this morning, Jack and me. Snowed an inch or two overnight, though, and I thought—Nah. However, when we reached the big ’ol switchback, I changed my mind. We did the hike.
Before that, though, early in our hike, when I didn’t imagine I’d see anything too interesting, what should appear in the Russian olive tree but a Northern Goshawk. Third-ever bird of this species I’ve had, all in this particular patch.
Up the ridge, I spied a solitaire, heard Chukars—and I kept losing one or the other of my new ice grips. [I’d had this brand before, and they were fine, but something changed, apparently.] Didn’t really need them (eventually just took ’em off), but three times I had to retrace my steps to track down the lost grip. Once descending a couple hundred feet, at least. The hike took a good hour longer than usual on account of it.
But, kind of surprisingly, it was totally worth it—spending that extra time up a mountain with my dog.
Thankful.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:17 a.m. (MST), I hiked some 1,200 feet up a mountain.
1. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
2. House Finch* (v)
3. Black-billed Magpie*
4. American Robin (v)
5. Black-capped Chickadee**
6. Northern Goshawk
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
8. Downy Woodpecker
9. Dark-eyed Junco
10. Spotted Towhee (v)
11. Townsend’s Solitaire
12. Chukar (v)
13. Northern Flicker (v)
14. Juniper Titmouse (v)
15. Rock Pigeon
16. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, chukar, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, house finch, juniper titmouse, lesser goldfinch, northern flicker, northern goshawk, red-breasted nuthatch, rock pigeon, spotted towhee, Townsend’s solitaire, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
