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
The last in this stretch of daily hikes began chilly, but the nearly purely clear sky soon enough let the sun warm things up for dog and me. As Captain Jack enjoyed the trailside smells (as always), birds obliged and entertained me—especially great throngs of juncos and a furtive Steller’s Jay. (I gave chase but got only a sketchy, glimpsy photo.
The photo of the day, however, was the first I took: a very vocal male flicker calling from a tree above the front yard.
We’re headed to Los Angeles tomorrow. No bird hikes until Wednesday.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:25 a.m. (9:25 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Dark-eyed Junco** 2. House Finch* 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 4. Spotted Towhee (v) 5. Pine Siskin 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Black-billed Magpie* 8. Black-capped Chickadee 9. Steller’s Jay 10. Cooper’s Hawk
Elsewhere
11. House Sparrow 12. Song Sparrow (v) 13. Northern Flicker 14. European Starling
Mammals
Red Squirrel Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere
Dog and I met no one at the trailhead and only encountered a couple of people and a dog during our entire hike this lovely Saturday. Nippy, yes. Snow around, yes. But also a warm sun and mud—sure signs of spring a-comin’.
Nice assortment of birds also, including a Chukar (voice only) and a solitaire. Also deer, and a hawk at the end of it.
Just a lovely morning and day.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 9:00 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
