The Merlin made my morning. Jack and I had hit the trail about the usual time, in weather about the same as the past few days—20s (F), cloudless, slight breeze, mountain shade—and with minimal early bird activity. But as we came back from our usual quick stop atop the bluff, there it was, perched in the upper branches of the tallest Russian olive.
It was kind of a déjà vu moment—same thing happened with the Northern Goshawk a few days back—but a welcome surprise. The little falcon stayed there, back-to, turning its head occasionally to check on us. Finally lifted up and floated off and down the slope toward the north.
Otherwise, the usual suspects. (Although it was nice to come upon the Downy Woodpecker tapping in its usual patch among the burnt scrub oaks after not having seen it the past two days.)
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:27 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. House Finch*
4. Spotted Towhee*
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
6. Merlin
7. Dark-eyed Junco*
8. Downy Woodpecker
9. Juniper Titmouse
Elsewhere
10. House Sparrow
11. European Starling
12. Eurasian Collared-dove
13. American Robin (v)
14. Song Sparrow
15. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
Red Squirrel (v)
(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, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, juniper titmouse, merlin, mountain cottontail, red squirrel, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
