Although local reporters have been pretending it arrived early with all the snow, now it’s technically, astronomically, officially winter. My first hike of the season with dog was a fun one, if rather quiet bird-wise. Still, several species hung out with us—mostly chickadees and goldfinches.
First thing this morning at home, I watched a kestrel flutter up toward the foothills; we followed soon after. There were deer and and a cottontail, too.
All in all, a good first winter’s day.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 9:01 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch (v)
2. Rock Pigeon*
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
4. Lesser Goldfinch
5. Black-capped Chickadee
6. Northern Flicker
7. Dark-eyed Junco
8. Pine Siskin (v)
Elsewhere
9. American Kestrel
10. House Sparrow
11. California Quail
12. Black-billed Magpie
13. European Starling
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American kestrel, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, California quail, dark-eyed junco, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, mountain cottontail, mule deer, northern flicker, pine siskin, rock pigeon, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
