The wind was a-whippin’ when dog and I hit the trailhead this morning. Temps about 60 (F), but 20, 30, 40 mile-an-hour gusts. Although it was a favorable southerly wind, I didn’t exactly expect to see a bunch of birds—let alone any first-of-year migrants—in such extreme conditions.
In fact, I didn’t see any first-of-year birds. But I managed to see a good bunch of species.
Most notably were a couple of windblown White-crowned Sparrows. And on a utility pole just above the sparrows perched the neighborhood red-tail. Quail, vulture, gnatcatcher, kinglet—a pretty good selection for the beginnings of a turbulent weather day.
Couple of rainy, snow days coming up, looks like, but Sunday looks nice. Hitting the road on Monday.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:55 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
3. Song Sparrow** (v)
4. Rock Pigeon*
5. Spotted Towhee
6. Eurasian Collared-dove*
7. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
9. House Finch*
10. California Quail** (v)
11. White-crowned Sparrow
12. Red-tailed Hawk
13. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (v)
14. Cooper’s Hawk (v)
15. Turkey Vulture
16. Pine Siskin (v)
Elsewhere
17. House Sparrow (v)
18. Lesser Goldfinch
`19. European Starling
20. American Crow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere