After a very fun trip to Los Angeles, where Sarah took us birding (ended up with nine or ten lifers!) on her bird—I mean, birthday, dog and I returned to our recent stomping grounds this morning. All was remarkably unchanged.
A bit warmer, a bit less snow and ice (good thing, ’cause I forgot my grips), but about as many bird species, and nearly thirty deer. Scrub jays kind of stole the show.
But I did encounter a few robins, that quintessential sign of spring. At home in afternoon, one even posed for photos.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 8:10 a.m. (9:10 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Lesser Goldfinch* (v)
5. Spotted Towhee
6. Pine Siskin
7. Rock Pigeon*
8. House Finch* (v)
9. Northern Flicker** (v)
10. California Quail (v)
11. Dark-eyed Junco
Elsewhere
11. House Sparrow (v)
12. Song Sparrow
13. Northern Flicker (v)
14. Eurasian Collared-dove
Mammals
Mule Deer
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only
*Also Elsewhere
**Voice only Elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-capped chickadee, California quail, dark-eyed junco, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, mountain cottontail, mule deer, northern flicker, pine siskin, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
