Only a degree or two above freezing this morning when dog and I headed up the trail. Breezy, too—windy almost. But mostly sunny (with a few big billowy clouds), and it’s always calmer under the ridge.
Quite a few bird species heard or seen, including a little wave of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. First I heard one while we were climbing the little shady gully (a.k.a., Coyote Canyon). Its voice was coming from up the south side where a bunch of deer were hanging out. Then, on the deer trail up closer to the deer, I heard (then saw) a pair if kinglets poking about in a juniper. Those two flew away, but two more showed up in another tree.
Finally, on our return, I heard (then saw) a sixth one flitting about in the scrub oak. More evidence of spring migration.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:52 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. House Finch*
3. Rock Pigeon*
4. Spotted Towhee
5. Pine Siskin
6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
7. Northern Flicker** (v)
8. Dark-eyed Junco
9. Chukar (v)
10. Black-capped Chickadee
11. Black-billed Magpie
12. California Quail** (v)
13. Song Sparrow* (v)
14. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
Elsewhere
15. House Sparrow (v)
16. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
17. Eurasian Collared-dove
18. European Starling
19. Red-tailed Hawk
20. Turkey Vulture
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, California quail, chukar, dark-eyed junco, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, mule deer, northern flicker, pine siskin, red-tailed hawk, rock pigeon, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, spotted towhee, turkey vulture, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
