We had a late hike this morning, Captain Jack and I—part of it in the rain. Light rain, and only steady for fifteen minutes or so, but we got a little wet. But then the rain stopped, and we continued along our usual route, muddy though it was.

Didn’t expect many birds, but fairly many there: juncos lurking under the big Russian olive tree, a swift flock of robins, a talkative titmouse, a surprise raven. Also a soaking wet Cooper’s Hawk. We got near the hawk before I saw it and it flapped up the slope a ways and perched on a snag, where it sat soaking and fluffing and scratching its chin.

The unseasonably warm, wet landscape was beautiful. The colors popped. I do love a rainy day. Tomorrow we’re supposed to get snow.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 11:14 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.

1. House Finch* (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee*
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
4. Rock Pigeon*
5. Common Raven
6. American Robin*
7. Dark-eyed Junco
8. Spotted Towhee (v)
9. Cooper’s Hawk
10. Lesser Goldfinch**
11. Song Sparrow** (v)
12. Juniper Titmouse (v)

Elsewhere

13. House Sparrow (v)
14. European Starling
15. Black-billed Magpie (v)

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere