Another overcast but fairly mild morning. Slight breeze, temps in the comfortable 50s (F). Quite a few of the resident bird species, but also a newly arriving Turkey Vulture and some Chipping Sparrows vying for territory up in the junipers.
And mammals. More than one Mountain Cottontail, the usual little family of Mule Deer down in the scrub oak thicket. Dog and I got pretty close to three of them—pretty sure they know us by now—and one elder doe posed for a photo. I’ve come to like knowing I’m regularly in the company of deer.
Rain tomorrow, then clearing and warming. Soon butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, more birds.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:22 a.m. (8:22 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. House Finch**
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Spotted Towhee
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
6. Rock Pigeon*
7. Black-billed Magpie
8. Song Sparrow** (v)
9. Broad-tailed Hummingbird (wing-trill)
10. Chipping Sparrow
11. Turkey Vulture
12. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
Elsewhere
13. California Quail
14. European Starling
15. Mallard
Mammals
Red Squirrel
Mountain Cottontail
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chckadee, broad-tailed hummingbird, California quail, chipping sparrow, European starling, house finch, lesser goldfinch, mallard, mountain cottontail, mule deer, red squirrel, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, turkey vulture, Woodhous’s scrub-jay
