6 April 2026

Posts Tagged ‘house sparrow’

Success Story

Thursday, February 24th, 2022
Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (growing new tail feathers), East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 24 February 2022.
Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (growing new tail feathers).

Dog and I hiked at our usual morning hour this partly sunny day. Temps in the teens (F) to start, but no wind—was a pleasant stroll on the deer trails.

Many more birds about, albeit the usual suspects. Most interesting was the discovery that the tail-less scrub-jay appears to be growing new tail feathers. Seems to me like an uplifting success story. Could use a few of those these days.

Grandeur Peak Area List
At 09:15 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Pine Siskin
2. Dark-eyed Junco**
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
5. Song Sparrow (v)
6. Rock Pigeon*
7. House Finch**
8. Black-billed Magpie

Elsewhere

9. House Sparrow (v)
10. Lesser Goldfinch (v)

Mammals

Red Squirrel
Mule Deer

(v) Voice only
* Also Elsewhere
**Voice only Elsewhere

Sun and Storm

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022
Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 22 February 2022.
Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay.

Another dusting of snow overnight, along with a dip in the temperature. Also a bit of wind. But warmer in the high desert sun. Quite a few bird species, too. Not high numbers, but a couple posed for photos. Also deer.

Tonight, here at home, the wind is a-roaring. There aren’t that many windy days here, but when they come, they let you know it. We’ll soon see how stormy it’ll be.

Grandeur Peak Area List
At 08:49 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Northern Flicker (v)
2. Pine Siskin
3. House Finch**
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
5. Black-billed Magpie**
6. American Robin (v)
7. Rock Pigeon*
8. Song Sparrow** (v)
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. Dark-eyed Junco
11. Spotted Towhee (v)

Elsewhere

12. European Starling
13. House Sparrow (v)
14. Lesser Goldfinch (v)

Mammals

Mule Deer

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

Juncos

Sunday, February 20th, 2022
Dark-eyed Junco, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 20 February 2022.
Dark-eyed Junco.

Up in the 30s (F) when we hit the trails this morning, dog and I. Last springlike day for a while, though—cold front comin’ through tomorrow. But today held some interesting bird activity. A raven, first Chukar in a while, and the usual juncos.

Not high numbers other than the juncos. They were twittering, softly warbling, and chipping those sharp little chips of theirs. There’s something comforting about juncos. Also, I can usually coax them to pose for photos.

So, I guess we’ll be getting some snow. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Grandeur Peak Area List
At 09:01 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. House Finch** (v)
2. Northern Flicker** (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Eurasian Collared-dove
5. Dark-eyed Junco
6. Pine Siskin (v)
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
8. Black-billed Magpie* (v)
9. Spotted Towhee (v)
10. Chukar (v)
11. Common Raven
12. Lesser Goldfinch (v)

Elsewhere

13. House Sparrow (v)
14. Lesser Goldfinch

Mammals

Red Squirrel (v)
Mule Deer

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

 
Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson



3IP Logo
©1997–2026 by 3IP