A warmish (40s F), overcast, breezy morning when dog and I started up the switchback. A fair selection of birds above the neighborhood, but low numbers compared to recent days. A siren rose from the basin, and a family of coyotes broke into song. Heard the solitaire down below.
Plenty of evidence of deer on the deer trails: hoof prints all over the place, snow cleared away for access to greenery. We even spooked a big one coming up the trail—then, on our return trip, I spied at least five more, just chillin’ up the north slope above the gully.
Added an American Goldfinch on our return. A good gloomy hike in a wildly beautiful landscape.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 8:49 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch (v)
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Rock Pigeon*
5. Northern Flicker**
6. Townsend’s Solitaire (v)
7. Black-billed Magpie**
8. American Goldfinch (v)
Mammals
Mountain Coyote (v)
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American goldfinch, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, house finch, mountain coyote, mule deer, northern flicker, rock pigeon, Townsend’s solitaire, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
