Today I heard my first Golden Eagle vocalization. Dog and I were hiking along our usual deer trail (on this unexpectedly showers-free-yet-mostly-overcast morning) when I heard it. A series of loud, declarative, high, clear notes. Didn’t recognize the sound at all, but it had me looking up in the direction of the ridge—where the eagle appeared, circling.
I’d heard voices of Bald Eagles—which are kind of thin and twittery for such a stately bird—but never a golden. When the eagle swooped down to a rocky outcrop and sat for a good long while without calling, and I began to wonder if I’d heard another bird. But back home, I confirmed the ID.
Right after the eagle, I spied a kestrel in flight. Also saw a cottontail and a Rock Squirrel.
A good hike on the day before the snow.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 08:44 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Pine Siskin
2. American Robin*
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
4. House Finch**
5. Dark-eyed Junco
6. Rock Pigeon
7. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
8. Spotted Towhee (v)
9. Black-billed Magpie (v)
10. Northern Flicker (v)
11. Song Sparrow (v)
12. Golden Eagle
13. American Kestrel
Elsewhere
14. House Sparrow (v)
15. European Starling
16. Mourning Dove (v)
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
Mule Deer
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
* Also Elsewhere
**Voice only Elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American kestrel, American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, European starling, golden eagle, house finch, house sparrow, mountain cottontail, mourning dove, mule deer, northern flicker, pine siskin, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub-jay
