This morning’s hike with dog in the chilly air under a fair sky proceeded with the accompaniment of Black-billed Magpies. Magpies typically provide a sort of background chatter, but today they performed a sort of raucous symphony—all along the trails.
I like magpies generally. I didn’t appreciate the fact that they likely polished off a nest of new baby grosbeaks last spring, but they’re a transparent sort of bird. Smart, unafraid. They were the most abundant bird this morning aside from juncos.
I have to say I did appreciate the flitting, skittish junco gangs. Helped balance things out this lovely morning.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 8:35 a.m. (9:35 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. Spotted Towhee**
3. House Finch**
4. Dark-eyed Junco
5. Rock Pigeon*
6. American Robin
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
8. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
9. Northern Flicker
10. Pine Siskin (v)
11. Song Sparrow (v)
Elsewhere
12. House Sparrow (v)
13. European Starling
14. California Gull
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, California gull, dark-eyed junco, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, northern flicker, pine siskin, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
