Was a quiet hike with dog this morning. Had only eight species on my trail list, and I saw only half of those. (Just one—a scrub-jay—posed for photos.) But this was an errand day, and between the in-town birds and yard birds, I ended up with a nice variety.
Gull, geese, and starlings in town. And in the yard, a Golden-crowned Kinglet for the second straight day (heard this time) along with glimpses of the resident Song Sparrow. A good day today.
Anybody’s guess what tomorrow will bring.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 9:02 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. Black-billed Magpie* 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 4. Rock Pigeon* 5. Spotted Towhee 6. Northern Flicker (v) 7. Pine Siskin (v) 8. California Quail* (v)
Elsewhere
9. House Finch 10. European Starling 11. California Gull 12. Canada Goose 13. Golden-crowned Kinglet (v) 14. Song Sparrow
So, I have a thing for the Juniper Titmouse. It took me a while to spot one here over the past 18 months—not until I learned its bubbly, staccato call did I began to observe its behavior, learn its habits. I’m pretty sure, in fact that I’ve never seen one without first hearing its voice.
So it was a treat to hear that voice at the trailhead this morning, before dog and I had even begun our climb up the switchback. Better yet, it flitted over in our direction (they tend to be rather shy) and posed for photos.
A good Sunday hike (including visits with three groups of hiking friends), and a nice selection of birds. But the highlight happened right at the start.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 9:04 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
Good hike with Captain Jack this morning. just the two of us for most of it—the two of us, plus a fair assortment of local birds. A Juniper Titmouse near the trailhead, the Red-tailed Hawk on its cell-tower perch below the bluff, a gang of chickadees accompanying us up Coyote Canyon.
Was especially nice to see my Downy Woodpecker friend after a couple days away.
Later, at home, I happened to be in the front yard with Jack when I heard the distinctive chatter of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and spotted it flitting into the foliage along the fence. It even popped out for a candid photo.
My experience of 2021 has been OK so far.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 9:01 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch (v) 2. Juniper Titmouse (v) 3. Black-billed Magpie (v) 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 5. Rock Pigeon* 6. Red-tailed Hawk 7. Downy Woodpecker 8. Black-capped Chickadee 9. Spotted Towhee* 10. California Quail (v) 11. Pine Siskin 12. Dark-eyed Junco
Elsewhere
13. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 14. European Starling
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
