The forecast called for rain for most of the day, and the morning was lowery and drippy—but from the time dog and I headed up the switchback until we jumped back in the truck, all we saw were some very light flurries of snow.
Well, that wasn’t all we saw—there were a bunch of birds. Migrating robins and yellow-rumpes, a pair of White-crowned Sparrows, many finches, a circling redtail, and, in distant flight, a random, solitary Canada Goosed.
The held the pungent aroma of autumn, and the temperature was chilly (but not too chilly)—and the feeling in the breeze was fall sweet.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:41 a.m. (9:41 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Was supposed to rain all day, so headed out prepared to get a little wet, dog and I. However—despite a dramatic looking sky—we encountered only sparse sprinkles. And I managed to spot a few birds.
A couple even posed (a couple of doves that we surprised in the little burnt patch).
Rained lightly for much of the rest of the day, and tomorrow’s looking rainier. We shall hike either way, Captain Jack and I.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:34 a.m. (8:34 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Song Sparrow** (v) 2. House Finch** 3. Northern Flicker 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v) 5. Rock Pigeon* 6. Spotted Towhee (v) 7. Yellow-rumped Warbler 8. Mourning Dove 9. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 10. American Robin (v) 11. White-crowned Sparrow
Elsewhere
12. House Sparrow (v) 13. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 14. California Quail
Mammals
Red Squirrel Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
What began as a damp, chilly, quiet morning in the foothills (after an overnight shower or two) turned out to be the most exciting of the young season for dog and me.
Golden Eagle.
First, the sound of a siren rose from I-215 below, and a few seconds later, the scrub downhill from us erupted in yips and barks and howls. Many coyotes, singing at the tops of their lungs—and for a good couple of minutes. (And behind us, from somewhere high up the near the ridge, came another solo howl.)
Next, we encountered a little flock of juncos. First juncos since spring.
Finally, a Golden Eagle flew by. First eagle—or big bird of any kind—in a good long while.
I’ll take a morning like this one any ol’ day.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:40 a.m. (8:40 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch** 2. Rock Pigeon* 3. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 4. White-crowned Sparrow 5. Northern Flicker 6. Mourning Dove 7. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 8. Song Sparrow** (v) 9. Yellow-rumped Warbler 10. American Robin 11. Lesser Goldfinch** 12. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 13. Black-billed Magpie (v) 14. Dark-eyed Junco 15. Pine Siskin (v) 16. Golden Eagle 17. Downy Woodpecker (v) 18. Spotted Towhee (v)
Mammals
Red Squirrel Mountain Coyote Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
