This day, Captain Jack’s thirteenth birthday, we headed up the switchback as usual. The sky, cloudless. The trails, dry. The sense of spring, surrounding us. May we share more springs to come.
No obvious migrants still (other than, perhaps, some robins)—but the year-round resident birds are active. A noisy gang of jays engaging in a row, chickadees (both black-capped and mountain) moving around, and the ringing songs of towhees.
I’ve likely mentioned here before the differences—and similarities—between the Eastern Towhee of Maine and the Spotted Towhee of Utah. Once considered races of the same species, they have much in common. Also plenty of vocal differences.
One similarity, though, is their ubiquitousness. I like a familiar bird.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:40 a.m. (8:40 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker**
2. Song Sparrow* (v)
3. American Robin (v)
4. House Finch**
5. Rock Pigeon*
6. Spotted Towhee
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Mountain Chickadee
Elsewhere
10. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-capped chickadee, house finch, house sparrow, mountain chickadee, mule deer, northern flicker, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
