As a part of our daily hike routine, Captain Jack and I climb a ways up a little shady canyon, to emerge on a well-worn deer tail that passes through an open area dotted with juniper trees. (It reminds me in a way of Maine’s blueberry barrens, but steeper, and with junipers instead of beech and birch and alders.) Sometimes it’s quiet up there, sometimes active.
Today it was quiet—not least because of a chill wind. But also likely thanks to a pair of Cooper’s Hawks that have returned this year to nest across the canyon. Still, House Finches were active (they apparently like to nest up there), as were a couple of scrub-jays—and I believe I found a tree that the Juniper Titmice seem to like. There were a couple deer up there, too—above us—and in a tree down in the canyon I’ve been watching chickadees clean out a nest dcavity.
Another wet, nippy morning—but only a little light snow falling. Got busy early, so dog and I didn’t head up until later than usual. Just us up there, aside from a bunch of unseen deer and a cottontail and a whole bunch of birds.
Numbers, not species—although I did happen to spy a pair of Canada Geese headed north. Saw at least forty robins and half as many juncos. Watched quietly for a while as chickadees cleaned out a nest cavity for imminent use. A Cooper’s Hawk was near their nest, and the scrub-jays have gone pretty quiet—nesting also, I’d wager.
Quite a few Spotted Towhees, too, as usual. I’ve learned to tell the males from females, the former being quite black on top, and the latter being very dark brown. Eastern Towhees are a breeze by comparison.
Tomorrow’s supposed to be sunny.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:40 a.m. (9:40d MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
The mud on the trail this morning made a squishy sound beneath my boots, but I didn’t mind. I kind of liked it, the idea that this—here, now, the melting snow of late winter—is where much of the water comes from here in the high desert. Also, I saw a lot of birds.
The early part of the day was mostly overcast, but in afternoon it got sunny, and I heard the click-click-click! of some quail. Snuck out on the deck and got a photo of a lovely female, perched on a rose bush and sounding that alarm to the rest of her covey.
Less than a week ’til spring.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:57 a.m. (9:57 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Cooper’s Hawk 2. Dark-eyed Junco 3. Cassin’s Finch 4. American Robin** (v) 5. Lesser Goldfinch** (v) 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay* 7. Rock Pigeon* 8. Spotted Towhee* 9. House Finch** (v) 10. Black-capped Chickadee 11. Juniper Titmouse 12. Song Sparrow* (v)
Elsewhere
13. Eurasian collared-dove (v) 14. California Quail
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
