Fun hike with dog this morning—a cloudless morning, as forecast. Dry trails, nice birds (albeit fewer numbers than yesterday). Did get a good, near peek at a bird I could not quickly identify (haven’t yet checked my GoPro video), and also a one-eyed Cooper’s Hawk, but the best part was pestering another Juniper Titmouse until it finally posed for photos.
Migrants coming within the next week or two. Woo-hoo!
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:41 a.m. (8:41 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
As forecast, the day dawned clear. Nippy still, but much dryer trails. Bunches of birdies, too—nearly 50 of them robins.
A raven flew over, had a nice look at a solitaire, two starlings flew by (unusual), and a goodly amount of towhees. Also stopped to chat with some early-rising human (and dog) friends.
Tomorrow being Sunday—and having a similar forecast—we can maybe expect more of the same.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:24 a.m. (8:24 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* 2. Spotted Towhee 3. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 4. Townsend’s Solitaire 5. Northern Flicker 6. Common Raven 7. European Starling 8. Rock Pigeon* 9. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 10. House Finch* 11. Juniper Titmouse (v) 12. Black-billed Magpie* (v) 13. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
Elsewhere
14. House Sparrow (v) 15. Mourning Dove 16. California Quail 17. Song Sparrow
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Another wet, nippy morning—but only a little light snow falling. Got busy early, so dog and I didn’t head up until later than usual. Just us up there, aside from a bunch of unseen deer and a cottontail and a whole bunch of birds.
Numbers, not species—although I did happen to spy a pair of Canada Geese headed north. Saw at least forty robins and half as many juncos. Watched quietly for a while as chickadees cleaned out a nest cavity for imminent use. A Cooper’s Hawk was near their nest, and the scrub-jays have gone pretty quiet—nesting also, I’d wager.
Quite a few Spotted Towhees, too, as usual. I’ve learned to tell the males from females, the former being quite black on top, and the latter being very dark brown. Eastern Towhees are a breeze by comparison.
Tomorrow’s supposed to be sunny.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:40 a.m. (9:40d MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
