Still warmish this morning, although it started off a little slow. But in a flurry of bird activity, I heard a flicker, spied a robin, and heard the unmistakable call of a skein of Canada Geese overhead—twenty-seven in all.
What followed were the appearances of a dozen additional species—including a handsome male Downy Woodpecker.
Regardless of the happenings in the so-called civilized world, it’s hard to be disappointed or depressed or unhappy on a cool, cloudless November day like this one.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:13 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker (v) 2. American Robin 3. Mourning Dove 4. Canada Goose 5. Spotted Towhee 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 7. Black-billed Magpie* 8. Dark-eyed Junco** 9. House Finch** 10. American Goldfinch 11. Black-capped Chickadee 12. Lesser Goldfinch 13. Northern Harrier 14. Downy Woodpecker 15. Pine Siskin (v) 16. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Another quiet morning—although the muffled traffic noise suggested a northeast breeze. A good number of individual birds moving through, but not a whole bunch of species.
Still, I had a nice surprise when, as on a mission, a solitary Northern Harrier flew determinedly overhead, southbound. Only the third harrier I’ve seen here, I believe.
Had lots of finches and robins, along with a bunch of other usual suspects. No Mountain Chickadees, though.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:33 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker** 2. Mourning Dove 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. House Finch* 5. Dark-eyed Junco 6. Northern Harrier 7. Spotted Towhee 8. Pine Siskin 9. American Robin** 10. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 11. Black-billed Magpie 12. Lesser Goldfinch*
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
A warmish morning, this one—but windy. Just about the windiest hiking conditions I believe I’ve experienced since moving here last August. I’d estimate 30 mph winds. Which actually felt nice up on the ridge, but made for poorer birding than yesterday.
But more species on my list somehow. Nothing outlandish, a few sightings fleeting, no great photos. Still fun, though.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
