I brought a second water bottle this morning, ’cause I figured Captain Jack and I might like to take our first ridge hike in—well, months. (Since sometime in fall anyway.) And so, on a bright spring morning, we did.
And it was lovely. Pleasantly nippy and breezy and sunny and improved by the company of wildlife. Eighteen bird species in all, including an eagle flyby, just as we set off up the ridge, on Millcreek Canyon side. (A slightly difficult photo, as the bird was below us.) Also three mammals.
A couple hours later, toward the end of our descent, as I was searching for the source of the cry of a Cooper’s Hawk, I heard the whistle of the wings of a dove, which took a perch right behind us. Easier photo.
Will likely be our last ridge hike—my personal favorite on these trails—but we shall see.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:40 a.m., sun time, I hiked 1,200 feet or so up a mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. Eurasian Collared-dove**
3. Song Sparrow** (v)
4. Spotted Towhee
5. Northern Flicker*
6. Rock Pigeon*
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
8. House Finch**
9. Pine Siskin
10. Golden Eagle
11. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
12. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
13. Chukar (v)
14. Black-billed Magpie (v)
15. Cooper’s Hawk (v)
16. Mourning Dove
17. Red-tailed Hawk
18. California Quail** (v)
Elsewhere
19. Lesser Goldfinch
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
Mule Deer
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, California quail, chukar, cooper's hawk, Eurasian collared dove, golden eagle, house finch, lesser goldfinch, mountain cottontail, mourning dove, mule deer, northern flicker, pine siskin, red-tailed hawk, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
