Signs of spring this morning. For one thing, it was warm enough that I didn’t wear insulated jeans for the first time in a good while. For another, a pair of doves flew by as dog and I started up the switchback. For yet another thing, I heard—then saw—a little flock of White-crowned Sparrows, first of the year.
Still a few deer up there. And encountered three (count ’em, three!) Townsend’s Solitaires. Fourteen species total this muddy-trail day.
Snow again this weekend, but I believe I’ve tasted spring in the air.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 08:42 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch*
2. Dark-eyed Junco
3. Mourning Dove
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
5. Pine Siskin (v)
6. Rock Pigeon*
7. Lesser Goldfinch* (v)
8. American Robin (v)
9. Northern Flicker* (v)
10. Black-billed Magpie** (v)
11. Spotted Towhee*
12. Black-capped Chickadee
13. Townsend’s Solitaire
14. White-crowned Sparrow†
Elsewhere
15. House Sparrow (v)
16. Song Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
* Also Elsewhere
**Voice only Elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, mourning dove, mule deer, northern flicker, pine siskin, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Townsend’s solitaire, white-crowned sparrow, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
