This morning’s hike with dog took place after a few little sprinkles, under a half-cloudy, half-blue sky—well, maybe two-thirds, one-third. The air tasted clean, and there were birds. Oddly, I saw few, but they were vocal in the wake of the rain.
One bird I heard was the solitaire that’s been hanging around the lower slopes the past few days. When its clear territorial notes got louder suddenly, I knew it was close enough to stalk, if I wanted to. I wanted to.
And, by golly—after climbing down through scrub oak tangles—I got a look. And a photo. With the city in the background.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 10:21 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Goldfinch (v)
2. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
3. Spotted Towhee (v)
4. House Finch** (v)
5. Red-tailed Hawk*
6. Northern Flicker**
7. American Robin (v)
8. Black-billed Magpie (v)
9. Townsend’s Solitaire
10. Black-capped Chickadee
11. European Starling
12. Rock Pigeon*
13. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
14. Pine Siskin (v)
Elsewhere
15. California Quail
Mammals
Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American goldfinch, American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, California quail, European starling, house finch, lesser goldfinch, northern flicker, pine siskin, red squirrel, red-tailed hawk, rock pigeon, spotted towhee, Townsend’s solitaire, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
