Even warmer this morning than in recent days, but otherwise, the same kind of weather—and dryness. More bird species, and decent numbers, yet fewer stretches of icy trails. Another fun hike for dog and me.
Noteworthy was the Golden Eagle I spied circling high in sky above the ridge. More noteworthy might’ve been the absence of deer.
(Running errands in town, I spotted a collared-dove—first in a while.)
Grandeur Peak Area List At 09:28 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin** 2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 3. House Finch* 4. Rock Pigeon* 5. Song Sparrow (v) 6. Dark-eyed Junco 7. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 8. Pine Siskin (v) 9. Black-capped Chickadee 10. Black-billed Magpie 11. Golden Eagle
Elsewhere
12. House Sparrow 13. Eurasian Collared-dove
Mammals
Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
A breezy early morning. Captain Jack and climbed the switchback in the mountain shade and eventually reached the penumbra and bright sun, which warmed things. Birds were singing—towhees, chickadees, robins—and a deer watched us pass on a lower trail.
As lovely as was the morning hike, my birding highlight came in late afternoon, when I took dog out to nose around. High above us I spied a lone raven, soaring and diving in the bluest blue sky.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:42 a.m. (8:42 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Spotted Towhee** 2. Dark-eyed Junco 3. Lesser Goldfinch** (v) 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 5. American Robin* (v) 6. Northern Flicker** 7. Black-capped Chickadee** 8. House Finch* 9. Black-billed Magpie* 10. Rock Pigeon* 11. Pine Siskin
Elsewhere
12. European Starling 13. Eurasian Collared-dove (v) 14. Common Raven
Mammals
Mule Deer Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Just as dog and I began our morning hike, I spied an American Kestrel zipping over to a utility line just above the trail ahead of us. While I was angling for a photo, a Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay showed up, alighting just beyond the kestrel. Just as I began to snap some pics, and the jay lunged at the little falcon, which popped up and veered away.
Otherwise the usual suspects (including a Mountain Chickadee). Will be interesting to see how the wildlife activity changes after our forecast rain and snow and cold arrives this weekend sometime.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:15 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 2. Northern Flicker 3. House Finch* 4. American Kestrel 5. Spotted Towhee 6. Black-billed Magpie** 7. Dark-eyed Junco 8. Mountain Chickadee 9. Pine Siskin (v) 10. American Robin 11. Black-capped Chickadee 12. Lesser Goldfinch 13. Song Sparrow (v)
Elsewhere
14. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
