Any day when I get to stalk a Townsend’s Solitaire I count as a good day. It happened this morning (for about the fifth or sixth time) in little wooded Coyote Canyon (where it’s nearly always happened), which dog and I ascended for the first time since the last big snow. Followed the deer tracks up there heard the bird’s faint but lovely song winter song—almost as if its practicing for spring—and it didn’t take a lot of looking to spot it.
Pretty sure it’s the same bird I’ve stalked at least a couple-three times before.
Elsewhere deer—including a deer hiding in scrub oak very near the trail, which, when I observed it, had a magpie walking along its back. Guessing it was after mites or ticks or something.
Also saw a Cooper’s Hawk. All in all, a real successful one.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 9:02 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
Had snow in the forecast, but starting as rain. And sure enough, it was drizzling pretty steadily when Jack and I reached the trailhead this morning. After we’d climbed a couple hundred feet through mud and drizzle, the drizzle turned to flurries.
More juncos than anything today, at least three dozen, twittering and chirping in the watery landscape. Saw the hawk again (same tree, intended to check, got distracted, no photo). And back down toward the neighborhood, I heard—then saw—a Mountain Chickadee.
We love a good wet, muddy winter hike, my dog and I.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:59 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch* (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 4. Rock Pigeon 5. American Robin** 6. Northern Flicker (v) 7. Dark-eyed Junco 8. Spotted Towhee (v) 9. Cooper’s Hawk 10. Lesser Goldfinch** 11. Mountain Chickadee 12. Song Sparrow** (v)
Elsewhere
13. House Sparrow (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
We had a late hike this morning, Captain Jack and I—part of it in the rain. Light rain, and only steady for fifteen minutes or so, but we got a little wet. But then the rain stopped, and we continued along our usual route, muddy though it was.
Didn’t expect many birds, but fairly many there: juncos lurking under the big Russian olive tree, a swift flock of robins, a talkative titmouse, a surprise raven. Also a soaking wet Cooper’s Hawk. We got near the hawk before I saw it and it flapped up the slope a ways and perched on a snag, where it sat soaking and fluffing and scratching its chin.
The unseasonably warm, wet landscape was beautiful. The colors popped. I do love a rainy day. Tomorrow we’re supposed to get snow.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 11:14 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch* (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee* 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 4. Rock Pigeon* 5. Common Raven 6. American Robin* 7. Dark-eyed Junco 8. Spotted Towhee (v) 9. Cooper’s Hawk 10. Lesser Goldfinch** 11. Song Sparrow** (v) 12. Juniper Titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
13. House Sparrow (v) 14. European Starling 15. Black-billed Magpie (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
