Ten towhees today. Lots of juncos, too. Pigeons down in the near basin. But the big news (to me) was the solitaire.
For the third straight morning, dog and I encountered a Townsend’s Solitaire while ascending leafy Coyote Canyon. I can’t help but wonder if it’s the same bird—but the first day I thought I saw a pair.
My feeling is that, at this season, in these particular conditions, the tangled vegetation offers food and safety for these lovely birds. Whatever the case, we’ll be taking our time ascending (unlike in previous days, when we marched up more or less oblivious to what I thought was mostly a bird-free zone.
(Note: I’m pretty sure Jack didn’t actually notice the solitaire. Could be wrong.)
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:31 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Spotted Towhee**
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. House Finch**
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
5. Rock Pigeon
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Black-billed Magpie
8. Northern Flicker (v)
9. Townsend’s Solitaire
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
Red squirrel
(v) Voice only
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, house finch, mountain cottontail, northern flicker, red squirrel, rock pigeon, spotted towhee, Townsend’s solitaire, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
