Our daily hiking trails, dog’s and mine, belong to the Spotted Towhee. When it comes to birds, that is. At least when it comes common singing and nesting birds. I must see or hear at least a dozen nesting pairs a every day up there. I’m a fan.

(This is similar to the Eastern Towhees of our old Maine trail—arguably the commonest nesting species at Beech Hill. Used to be the two species were considered one.)

But I’m also a fan of the chippie I heard, then tracked down up a deer trail. And the Mourning Dove cooing from somewhere up the side of the gultch. (Not a lot of those here, what with the infusion of Eurasian Collared Doves.)

And also the cottontail we spooked on our return trip along a shady stretch. Those little buns are fast.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:15 a.m., I hiked some 1,500 feet up a mountain.

1. Song Sparrow** (v)
2. American Robin*
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. Black-billed Magpie*
5. Spotted Towhee
6. Northern Flicker (v)
7. Dark-eyed Junco
8. House Finch* (v)
9. Chipping Sparrow
10. Pine Siskin (v)
11. Mourning Dove (v)
12. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
13. Wood-warbler (sp)
14. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay

Elsewhere

15. Eurasian Collared Dove (v)

Mammals

Mule Deer
Mountain Cottontail

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