6 April 2026

Posts Tagged ‘cooper’s hawk’

Robin in Winter

Sunday, March 1st, 2020
American Robin, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 01 March 2020.
American Robin.

The forecast snow arrived on time. By daylight, a dusting had fallen, and a light but steady snowfall continued until noon and beyond. By early afternoon, I’d decided dog and I would just brave the snow (which, admittedly, was light and gentle—especially compared to what I’d grown used to in winters in Maine).

Didn’t expect much wildlife action, but there were several bird species (nearly always are, it seems), along with a few deer, near and far. Most interesting sighting was a Cooper’s Hawk near where I’ve seen one twice before—and just the general effects of a good winter’s snowfall.

(Most photogenic bird was a robin down in the neighborhood.)

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 1 p.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.

1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. Pine Siskin
3. Dark-eyed Junco
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
5. House Finch*
6. Black-capped Chickadee
7. American Robin* (v)
8. Cooper’s Hawk

Elsewhere

9. Song Sparrow (v)
10. Eurasian Collared Dove

Mammals

Mule Deer

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere

**Voice only elsewhere

In the Air Somewhere

Wednesday, February 26th, 2020
Canada Geese circling SLC, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, 26 February 2020.
Canada Geese circling SLC.
Golden Eagle, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, 26 February 2020.
Golden Eagle.

A morning much like yesterday—but with a wild assortment of birds. Two raptors, quail, a thrush, corvids, etc. Seemed like the craziest things would show up at random intervals.

E.g., a flock of geese sweeping by my view from the house, just after a Cooper’s hawk flew over.

Lots of singing birds, lots of movement. Spring is in the air somewhere.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 9:15 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.

1. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
3. House Finch*
4. Black-capped Chickadee
5. Black-billed Magpie*
6. Dark-eyed Junco*
7. Northern Flicker
8. Golden Eagle
9. Song Sparrow* (v)
10. American Robin*
11. Cooper’s Hawk*
12. California Quail
13. Pine Siskin (v)

Elsewhere

14. Canada Goose
15. Rock Pigeon
16. House Sparrow (v)

Mammals

Rocky Mountain Elk
Mule Deer

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere

**Voice only elsewhere

Memorable Day

Tuesday, February 25th, 2020
Steller’s Jay, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 25 February 2020.
First glimpse of Steller’s Jay.
Northern flicker (red-shafted male), East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 25 February 2020.
Northern flicker (red-shafted male).

A day much like yesterday, but with fewer clouds. And a lifer.

Twenties (F) in the shade, warmer in the sun. No elk, a few deer, juncos, a pair of accipiters, a cooperative flicker, a random towhee. But about midway through my hike with dog, I heard a somewhat odd call, followed it with my eyes, and saw a bird light on the tip of a juniper quite a distance away. A flash of blue. Turned my camera that way just as it flew. Managed only one halfway decent photo.

But through the viewfinder I saw what looked like it might be the elusive Steller’s Jay. (Elusive, at least, for me. Been keeping my eye peeled for weeks and months.) I had to wait to see what the photo might show.

Welp, sure enough, the ID was clear: dark head, blue body, crest, white mark on crest. A Steller’s for sure.

I’d call this a memorable day.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 9:15 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.

1. Song Sparrow (v)
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Dark-eyed Junco
5. Black-billed Magpie*
6. Sharp-shinned Hawk
7. Northern Flicker**
8. House Finch* (v)
9. Steller’s Jay†
10. Pine Siskin (v)
11. Cooper’s Hawk
12. Spotted Towhee

Elsewhere

13. Eurasian Collared Dove
14. Lesser Goldfinch (v)

Mammals

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



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