What began as a damp, chilly, quiet morning in the foothills (after an overnight shower or two) turned out to be the most exciting of the young season for dog and me.
First, the sound of a siren rose from I-215 below, and a few seconds later, the scrub downhill from us erupted in yips and barks and howls. Many coyotes, singing at the tops of their lungs—and for a good couple of minutes. (And behind us, from somewhere high up the near the ridge, came another solo howl.)
Next, we encountered a little flock of juncos. First juncos since spring.
Finally, a Golden Eagle flew by. First eagle—or big bird of any kind—in a good long while.
I’ll take a morning like this one any ol’ day.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:40 a.m. (8:40 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch**
2. Rock Pigeon*
3. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
4. White-crowned Sparrow
5. Northern Flicker
6. Mourning Dove
7. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
8. Song Sparrow** (v)
9. Yellow-rumped Warbler
10. American Robin
11. Lesser Goldfinch**
12. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
13. Black-billed Magpie (v)
14. Dark-eyed Junco
15. Pine Siskin (v)
16. Golden Eagle
17. Downy Woodpecker (v)
18. Spotted Towhee (v)
Mammals
Red Squirrel
Mountain Coyote
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, golden eagle, house finch, lesser goldfinch, mountain coyote, mourning dove, northern flicker, pine siskin, red squirrel, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, spotted towhee, white-crowned sparrow, Woodhouse’s scrub jay, yellow-rumped warbler
