Got some good sleep last night, so didn’t rush to the trailhead first thing. As a result, much of my hike with dog happened in the sunshine this morning. Mild temperatures, plenty of interesting birds, just an all-around nice time.
Plus, a kinglet actually posed for a photo.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:30 a.m. (9:30 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. House Finch** 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay* 5. Yellow-rumped Warbler** 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Mourning Dove 8. Lesser Goldfinch** 9. Northern Flicker 10. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 11. Dark-eyed Junco 12. European Starling 13. Black-billed Magpie** 14. Red-tailed Hawk
Black-capped chickadee (dining on sunflower seeds).
Hiked early today—not summertime early, but certainly autumn early. About three-fourths of my hike with dog occurred in shade of the mountain, as did most of my bird sightings.
Among them, more kinglets, robins juncos, and yellow-rumps moving through (although not as many as yesterday). Plus, a Mountain Cottontail.
Here’s hoping tomorrow’s hike is as enjoyable.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:31 a.m. (8:31 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. House Finch 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v) 4. Yellow-rumped Warbler 5. Song Sparrow** 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Spotted Towhee** 8. Northern Flicker 9. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10. Dark-eyed Junco 11. American Robin 12. Black-billed Magpie**
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
And I don’t mean just juncos (although there were a bunch of those). Today’s nippy. cloudless hike with Captain Jack was a fun one. A cold-and-snowy snap combined with a dwindling photoperiod has kept the migrants moving right along.
Scores of robins today, plus the usual ’rumps, kinglets, and the aforementioned juncos. But also a young sharpy and—last but not least—a solitary Rock Wren. Pretty sure it’s the first of the species I’ve ever seen surrounded by (semi-fresh) snow.
I kinda wish every morning could be like this one. (Not really, but what an inspiration.)
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:06 a.m. (9:06 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin 2. House Finch** 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v) 4. Yellow-rumped Warbler 5. Rock Pigeon* 6. Pine Siskin 7. Sharp-shinned Hawk 8. Northern Flicker 9. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 10. Black-billed Magpie* 11. Black-capped Chickadee 12. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 13. White-crowned Sparrow 14. Dark-eyed Junco 15. Rock Wren
Elsewhere
16. Townsend’s Solitaire 17. Song Sparrow
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
