A brisk, nippy hike this morning with dog, who seemed particularly spry after a day off. A northish wind was whipping snow around the ridge, but the sun warmed us below. A few deer, but only two bird species for most of it—until we got back to the lower trail, which brought three more. A lovely day despite it all.
Afterward, during errands, I added five more species to the list—including a solitary crow on the roof of the grocery. I see crows so rarely out here that every sighting is a revelation.
Soon, back in Maine, we’ll be among crows again.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:38 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Pine Siskin (v) 2. Rock Pigeon* 3. Lesser Goldfinch** (v) 4. Dark-eyed Junco 5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
Elsewhere
6. House Sparrow (v) 7. Song Sparrow 8. American Crow 9. European Starling 10. California Gull
Mammals
Mule Deer Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere
A morning hike with Captain Jack. A few more hikers yesterday afternoon tramped down the trails we snowshoe-broke in the morning, so they were a bit easier to hike. Colder temps but more sun. No breeze to speak of.
Not the big bird numbers of yesterday, but more species. Notable were corvids (absent yesterday) and another pair of rosy-finches under a feeder across from the trailhead.
More snow due tomorrow evening, so Wednesday could be another wintry one. Which means perhaps still more rosy-finches. Which would be fun.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 9:00 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Spotted Towhee (v) 2. Pine Siskin** 3. Dark-eyed Junco* 4. Northern Flicker** (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 6. American Robin** (v) 7. House Finch* (v) 8. Rock Pigeon* 9. Black-billed Magpie** (v) 10. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 11. Gray-crowned Rosy-finch
Elsewhere
12. House Sparrow (v) 13. Song Sparrow 14. European Starling 15. Eurasian Collared-dove (v) 16. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere
Today I heard my first Golden Eagle vocalization. Dog and I were hiking along our usual deer trail (on this unexpectedly showers-free-yet-mostly-overcast morning) when I heard it. A series of loud, declarative, high, clear notes. Didn’t recognize the sound at all, but it had me looking up in the direction of the ridge—where the eagle appeared, circling.
I’d heard voices of Bald Eagles—which are kind of thin and twittery for such a stately bird—but never a golden. When the eagle swooped down to a rocky outcrop and sat for a good long while without calling, and I began to wonder if I’d heard another bird. But back home, I confirmed the ID.
Right after the eagle, I spied a kestrel in flight. Also saw a cottontail and a Rock Squirrel.
A good hike on the day before the snow.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 08:44 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Pine Siskin 2. American Robin* 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 4. House Finch** 5. Dark-eyed Junco 6. Rock Pigeon 7. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 8. Spotted Towhee (v) 9. Black-billed Magpie (v) 10. Northern Flicker (v) 11. Song Sparrow (v) 12. Golden Eagle 13. American Kestrel
Elsewhere
14. House Sparrow (v) 15. European Starling 16. Mourning Dove (v)
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail Mule Deer Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only * Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere †First-of-year
