A bit cooler this morning, with a slight breeze pushing a big inversion cloud bank out into the basin. The usual January birds showed up, and a dozen deer, but no cottontails.
The highlight, for me, was hearing the raspy, high-pitched call of a Steller’s Jay at some distance behind me, turning, and right away spying the bird atop a juniper. After I grabbed a couple quick pics, it flapped away to the tip of another juniper and let out its famous shook-shook-shook alert.
(A highlight because I love the look of this gorgeous bird—but also ’cause I nailed the call.)
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 09:12 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker (v)
2. Black-billed Magpie* (v)
3. House Finch**
4. Rock Pigeon*
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Steller’s Jay
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Spotted Towhee (v)
Elsewhere
10. House Sparrow (v)
11. California Gull
12. European Starling
Mammals
Mule Deer
Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, California gull, dark-eyed junco, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, mule deer, northern flicker, red squirrel, rock pigeon, spotted towhee, Steller’s jay, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
