Rain showers were in the forecast for this warmish morning, so dog and I didn’t waste any time in getting up the switchback. The overcast persisted, but no precipitation fell in our vicinity. Still, I didn’t expect to end up with many wild critters on my list.
I was wrong: plenty of bird species popped up (many willing to pose), and a Rock Squirrel made its first appearance in a while.
Notable were a softly singing Townsend’s Solitaire, a Juniper Titmouse, and a female Cassin’s Finch awaiting our return to the trailhead.
Would that tomorrow’s might be this fun.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:38 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
The morning was fair and mild and warm for mid-winter. The trail was ours alone, dog and me. The birds were mostly cooperative. And then came ravens.
As usually happens, the ravens announced themselves with croaks and cries. I spied them as they settled into a lone high leafless tree. They sat and called, both of them, before taking wing and circling, circling, then disappearing over the ridge.
Whenever ravens grace me with their presence, I feel blessed.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:56 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 2. Song Sparrow (v) 3. Black-billed Magpie 4. House Finch* 5. American Robin** (v) 6. Spotted Towhee** 7. Black-capped Chickadee** 8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay* 9. Rock Pigeon* 10. Dark-eyed Junco 11. Common Raven 12. Juniper Titmouse 13. Northern Flicker
Elsewhere
14. European Starling 15. Eurasian collared-dove
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
We hiked through a little overnight snow for the third straight morning, a partly sunny morning this day. A few birds about, a couple photos, no mammals, a little breeze, a fragrant sagebrush sprig, my best friend as a companion.
All in all, a very nice hike.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 9:01 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker 2. Spotted Towhee 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 4. Black-billed Magpie* 5. American Robin* 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Dark-eyed Junco 8. Black-capped Chickadee 9. House Finch** (v)
Elsewhere
10. European Starling
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
