On something of a lark (or simply remembering my lifer pair of Mountain Bluebirds last April there), I led Jack up to the cairn ridge—and beyond. We two oldsters hiked up above 7,000 feet and took another route down.
The day was cool at first but warmed up considerably. Saw no bluebirds—nor many species altogether—but we did encountered a pair of Chukars and, descending near the raven stone, the ravens themselves flew silently from behind us, very near, and off across the valley.
A long hike that left us both a bit spent, but well worth it.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:32 a.m. (8:32 MDT), I hiked some 2,000 feet up a mountain.
1. Lesser Goldfinch** 2. Black-billed Magpie* 3. American Robin* 4. Spotted Towhee 5. Rock Pigeon* 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 7. Black-capped Chickadee 8. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 9. House Finch** 10. Chukar 11. Pine Siskin (v) 12. Common Raven 13. Song Sparrow* (v)
Elsewhere
14. House Sparrow (v) 15. Northern Flicker (v) 16. California Quail 17. Eurasian Collared-dove
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Melted snow and sun and insects, cottontail and deer, singing birds in numbers. What a difference a day makes, eh? Another quick hike with Jack—but more like spring, this one.
Fifteen species in all this morning on the hill, and another five elsewhere. Many robins moving through, and first waxwings of the year.
The April chill will remain for a bit, but the photoperiod lengthens.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:42 a.m. (8:42 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch* 2. American Robin* 3. Dark-eyed Junco 4. Spotted Towhee 5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 8. Northern Flicker (v) 9. Song Sparrow** (v) 10. Rock Pigeon* 11. Cassin’s Finch 12. Cooper’s Hawk 13. Pine Siskin (v) 14. Black-billed Magpie* 15. Lesser Goldfinch*
Elsewhere
16. European Starling 17. Eurasian Collared-dove 18. House Sparrow 19. Downy Woodpecker 20. Cedar Waxwing†
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year bird
It’s really starting to feel like spring. Early spring, perhaps, but the warmer air today, bright sun, new leaves, and slight uptick in birdsong were convincing.
Singers down in the neighborhood and up on the deer trails. An Eastern Sunday cottontail in the old quarry. Even this evening in the yard, a solitary Cooper’s Hawk on a utility line.
As happens nearly every night, I can’t help but what tomorrow brings.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:49 a.m. (8:49 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
