Robins—robins everywhere. I encountered at least thirty of them, mostly in the Russian olive grove near the bluff and the old Monarch Quarry. Also down in the neighborhood, where I hear at least one of them singing.
I heard several singing Spotted Towhees, too. Singing House Finches and chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos. But the funnest encounter with a singing bird began when I heard the chattering of a Juniper Titmouse somewhere deep within (wait for it!) a juniper tree.
Was hoping for a photo, but the titmouse would have none of it. Jack and I waited there for a good fifteen minutes, I’d guess, as I watched the bird. And listened. After a good number of minutes, perhaps the bird got used to the quiet, motionless human and dog below, because it suddenly began to sing.
I’d never heard its song. It was really rather distinctive, bubbly and engaging.
Spring is nigh.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:41 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Dark-eyed Junco*
2. American Robin**
3. Spotted Towhee
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
5. Northern Flicker
6. Downy Woodpecker (v)
7. Black-capped Chickadee
8. House Finch*
9. Townsend’s Solitaire
10. Rock Pigeon*
12. Juniper Titmouse
Elsewhere
13. European Starling
14. Eurasian Collared-dove
15. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
16. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, juniper titmouse, lesser goldfinch, northern flicker, rock pigeon, spotted towhee, Townsend’s solitaire, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
