First truly damp, nippy morning of the season—complete with a dusting of snow atop the mountains. A combination of mysterious factors brought a little wave of migrants.
Right away, in the scrub along the switchback, came a small flock of juncos, along with Townsend’s Warbler. Then came a small contingent of yellow-rumps and an overflight of eighteen robins. Then the junco and yellow-rump numbers began to rise—and on our return, dog and I encountered a big gang of ’rumps, accompanied by a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
I do love a little migration wave.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:34 a.m. (8:34 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie (v)
2. House Finch** (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
4. Northern Flicker (v)
5. Rock Pigeon*
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Townsend’s Warbler
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
9. Spotted Towhee
10. Yellow-rumped Warbler
11. American Robin
12. Pine Siskin
13. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Elsewhere
14. Song Sparrow (v)
15. House Sparrow (v)
16. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
17. Accipiter (sp)
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: accipiter (sp), American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, mountain cottontail, northern flicker, pine siskin, rock pigeon, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Townsend’s warbler, Woodhouse’s scrub jay, yellow-rumped warbler
