Warm air, melting snow, muddy trails, feeling overdressed. I thought a bit about anthropogenic warming during my hike with dog this morn—but despite the odd atmospheric conditions, our hike was grand.
Grand not because of any peculiar birds or exciting sightings. Grand not because of any revelations or new discoveries. Grand merely because we were alone up there (other than a few “usual suspects”), and we enjoy each other’s company.
I’m a lucky dog—er, man.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:49 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Song Sparrow (v)
2. House Finch*
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
4. Black-capped Chickadee**
5. Rock Pigeon*
6. Spotted Towhee
7. Dark-eyed Junco
8. Black-billed Magpie* (v)
9. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
10. Eurasian Collared-dove
Elsewhere
11. American Robin
12. House Sparrow (v)
13. European Starling
Mammals
Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, red squirrel, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
