The temperature dipped last night, so dog and I enjoyed a brisk, bracing hike. The usually species, mostly—including a young Mountain Cottontail—but my first batch of juncos sparked my interest. They seemed a little more upset with our approach than usual (usually they flit away). I tried to keep track, hoping for a photo.
Saw movement in a juniper ahead of us, pointed my camera in that direction, and saw a cool-looking unfamiliar bird. Some kind of very small hawk or owl. My first Utah owl. I had no idea what it was. I thought perhaps a saw-whet (which species I’ve heard but not seen in person), but the tail seemed too long. Got a bunch of pics and figured I’d look it up when we got back home.
Which I did. My first-ever Northern Pygmy Owl. A tiny terror.
Been a while since I’ve had a lifer. I’ve saved the memory of its sighting for recall in the future.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:17 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
And an adventure it was! Light snow showers overnight had whitened things by the time Jack and I hit the trails (a bit late, I must confess). Had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised.
Was flurrying lightly when we we topped the switchback. I already had six species when I spied a thrush nibbling on Russian olives. Stumped me for a minute, what with the snow and overcast—so it was a nice little thrill wen I recognized it as a female Mountain Bluebird.
There were three others with it. Two pair. Grabbed some photos and ventured on.
Encountered no other humans or dogs, but we did surprise a big handsome coyote, which loped silently up a ravine and out of sight. Then, up in the junipers, we rounded a rocky outcrop to the sight of a bunch more Mountain Bluebirds. A flock of more than two dozen, by my count.
I’d seen only three in my life before today.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:46 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch* 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. Pine Siskin 4. Lesser Goldfinch** (v) 5. Spotted Towhee** 6. Mourning Dove 7. Mountain Bluebird 8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 9. Song Sparrow (v) 10. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 11. Black-billed Magpie 12. American Goldfinch 13. Juniper Titmouse (v) 14. Dark-eyed Junco
Mammals
Red Squirrel Mountain Coyote
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Got a bit of a late start this morning (after a good night sleep). The sky was overcast when dog and I arrived at the trailhead—and stayed that way for most of the hike. Quiet at first, with few photo opportunities. Glimpsed a Juniper Titmouse, though, and ended up with a dozen species in all.
As we reached our last descent, things started popping: a batch of towhees, a random Mourning Dove, first scrub-jay of the hike. And a cooperative House Finch posing against the russet-colored November landscape.
Odd to say it, but we’re expecting precipitation for much of this coming week. Starting tomorrow, in fact. (Finally!)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:45 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
