The first was a single bird I heard singing down near the trailhead. The second—towhees are a large sparrow—was the first of about ten representatives of the species. The third, were a pair of White-throated Sparrows, the first I’ve seen this year.
In fact, these two were not the first white-throats (I happened to hear one as we started up the trail), but they were gracious enough to pose for photos.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:04 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* 2. White-crowned Sparrow† 3. Song Sparrow** (v) 4. Pine Siskin** 5. California Quail** (v) 6. Spotted Towhee 7. House Finch** 8. Red-tailed Hawk 9. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 10. Northern Flicker (v) 11. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12. Cooper’s Hawk 13. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
14. Eurasian Collared-dove 15. House Sparrow (v) 26. Lesser Goldfinch
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Signs of spring this morning. For one thing, it was warm enough that I didn’t wear insulated jeans for the first time in a good while. For another, a pair of doves flew by as dog and I started up the switchback. For yet another thing, I heard—then saw—a little flock of White-crowned Sparrows, first of the year.
Still a few deer up there. And encountered three (count ’em, three!) Townsend’s Solitaires. Fourteen species total this muddy-trail day.
Snow again this weekend, but I believe I’ve tasted spring in the air.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 08:42 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch* 2. Dark-eyed Junco 3. Mourning Dove 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 5. Pine Siskin (v) 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Lesser Goldfinch* (v) 8. American Robin (v) 9. Northern Flicker* (v) 10. Black-billed Magpie** (v) 11. Spotted Towhee* 12. Black-capped Chickadee 13. Townsend’s Solitaire 14. White-crowned Sparrow†
Elsewhere
15. House Sparrow (v) 16. Song Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only * Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere †First-of-year bird
The morning was mild, the morning was overcast. Aside from a lone trail runner and a distant hiker, it was just dog and me up there on the deer trails.
Still quite a few migrants—in fact, more yellow-rumps than yesterday—and a lovely sparrow, and a high, distant eagle (I’m pretty sure).
Afternoon rain. Will rain tonight and in the morning. Sweet, sweet rain.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:21 a.m. (9:21 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 2. Yellow-rumped Warbler 3. Black-billed Magpie* 4. House Finch** 5. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. White-crowned Sparrow 8. Northern Flicker (v) 9. American Robin (v) 10. Dark-eyed Junco 11. Golden Eagle 12. Lesser Goldfinch*
Elsewhere
13. House Sparrow (v) 14. Song Sparrow (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
