Chilly still in the mountain shade, but warmer in the sun late. [Will be much chillier soon.] Right away I got little hints of activity—including a Ruby-crowned Kinglet along the switchback—and about ten minutes after dog and I got underway, up in the bluff area, we encountered a whole passel of birds—lots of juncos, plenty of chickadees, magpies and jays, and a pair of young White-crowned Sparrows.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Later, I heard juncos, spied a solitaire perched quietly on the tip of a nearby juniper, and then a Juniper Titmouse on the tip of another. Plenty of pics to choose from, too. Lots of cool species to watch and listen to and learn from.
Looking forward to seeing how things change by the weekend, when we’re told to expect snow.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:41 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
A morning much like yesterday’s—and arguably even funner. For one thing, the earth and sky were gorgeous. For another, I caught a glimpse of a Merlin, which was cool. And for yet another, I encountered three Juniper Titmice. That’s a record for the species.
For some reason, eBird thinks more than one JUTI seems unlikely on this patch at this season. But I’ve seen two a few times. Three today.
Otherwise, a couple male flickers added a nice splash of color to an already (mutedly) colorful landscape.
I do love fall.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:41 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Ah, another lovely morning’s hike in the mountain shade—and a bit of sun. A contrast with yesterday’s bird activity, though, thanks (I decided, based on nothing but a hunch) to a nice northwest wind overnight. Figure it might’ve cleared out the place. At least temporarily.
Truly a quietened morning landscape.
But still a nice list of finch and sparrow and corvid and chickadee and woodpecker. A junco even popped up in a sunny patch and posed for me.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:30 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Dark-eyed Junco 2. House Finch 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 4. Spotted Towhee 5. Pine Siskin (v) 6. Northern Flicker** 7. American Robin 8. Mountain Chickadee (v) 9. Black-capped Chickadee 10. Black-billed Magpie* (v)
Elsewhere
11. Song Sparrow (v) 12. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
