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.
Welp, I did it again. Dog and I started our hike early, to beat the “crowds”—and I figured, when we came to the upper trail, “Why not?” So we headed up to the ridge again. Then, on the ridge, gazing up the eastern slope, I thought, “Why not?”
Spotted Towhee.
Long story short, we hiked to 7,535 feet—highest yet (by not very much). Thought about continuing along precarious trail to Grandeur Peak, but thought better of it.
Then, descending, I heard a crazy-sounding chickadee. Slow and wheezy, like an elderly bird. Then the light bulb went off, and I reliazed what it had to be. As luck would have it, I got a good enough look to grab some photos.
Sweet hike today.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:15 a.m., I hiked about 2,400 feet up a mountain.
