Sure enough snowed a little overnight—and into this morning for a few hours. Very light snow, but wet enough (and chilly enough) to convince me to wait for a clearing. And when it came we headed up, dog and I.
And a grand hike it was, mostly because of the siskins. Pine Siskins everywhere—individuals, small batches, good-sized flocks. I heard and/or saw siskins at every point during our hike. (Vocal birds, siskins. Even an solo individual can sound like a squabbling family of ’em.)
The trace of spring snow and the siskin invasion were probably related somehow. Perhaps also the lone Cooper’s hawk perched nonchalantly in the tree overlooking the little old Monarch quarry.
On our return trip, the sun emerged. An enjoyable time was had by all.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 9:49 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. House Finch**
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Pine Siskin
5. Spotted Towhee
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Rock Pigeon*
8. Cooper’s Hawk
9. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
10. Song Sparrow* (v)
Elsewhere
11. European Starling
12. Lesser Goldfinch
13. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-capped chickadee, cooper's hawk, dark-eyed junco, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, mule deer, pine siskin, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
