In more than two years in Utah, I’ve only seen one species of owl. I saw it again today—not only the same species, I might add, but very possibly the same individual bird.
I’m talking about a Northern Pygmy Owl. Saw one today about a hundred feet from where I first encountered one last November. (Saw what I presume was the same owl a couple of times not long after that, in the same general area.) Since these fierce little birds live only three years or so, it might be a different one, I suppose—but they’re uncommon at such a low elevation.
One thing I documented this time around—hiking in a graupel shower with dog—was this species “eyes” in the back of its head, thought to be intended to confound mobbing songbirds). They really do look like eyes.
Today’s wintry mix will have passed by tomorrow, I hear. Wonder what’ll turn up in the morning.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 8:47 a.m. (9:47 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie**
2. House Finch (v)
3. Pine Siskin (v)
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
5. Yellow-rumped Warbler
6. Rock Pigeon*
7. Dark-eyed Junco
8. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
9. Northern Pygmy Owl
10. Northern Flicker
11. Spotted Towhee (v)
Mammals
Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: black-billed magpie, dark-eyed junco, house finch, northern flicker, northern pygmy owl, pine siskin, red squirrel, rock pigeon, ruby-crowned kinglet, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay, yellow-rumped warbler
