Another lovely morning hike with Captain Jack. Nippy to start again, comfortable at the end. Much of the recent snow has gone, and the excitement builds for spring happenings.
Birds about, the usual pre-spring suspects. The most interesting encounter began with the whine of a towhee. I stopped on the trail, Jack did likewise. A moment later, the source of the whine flitted up to a twig ahead of us about ten yards. Snapped off a couple photos—and then the bird flew straight in our direction, touching down within feet of me. I had to back off the zoom a bit to focus.
Just a hint of fun birding things to come.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 8 a.m. (9 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* (v)
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
3. Pine Siskin
4. Northern Flicker* (v)
5. Rock Pigeon*
6. House Finch*
7. Black-capped Chickadee
8. Spotted Towhee
9. Black-billed Magpie**
10. Dark-eyed Junco
11. Song Sparrow** (v)
Elsewhere
12. House Sparrow (v)
13. European Starling
14. American Kestrel
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also Elsewhere
**Voice only Elsewhere
Tags: American kestrel, American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, mule deer, northern flicker, pine siskin, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
