Another dry, blue-sky morning. Thanks to the 24-hour thaw, freeze, thaw, the icy parts of the switchback are dwindling—but the remnants are slick as can be. So we’re careful, dog and me.

Quite a few birds about—especially juncos—but few would pose for photos. Noteworthy was the first singing towhee of the year (apparently fooled by the crazy warm weather into thinking it’s spring and not February. Most noteworthy, though, was a herd of about thirty elk I happened so spy on a far, grassy foothill. First elk I’ve seen since early 2021.

A wee bit of snow is forecast for Tuesday. We shall see how that goes.

Grandeur Peak Area List
At 09:05 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Song Sparrow (v)
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
3. Rock Pigeon*
4. California Quail (v)
5. House Finch* (v)
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Pine Siskin (v)
8. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
9. Black-billed Magpie**
10. Black-capped Chickadee
11. Spotted Towhee
12. American Robin

Elsewhere

13. Northern Flicker
14. European Starling (v)

Mammals

Red Squirrel
Rocky Mountain Elk
Mule Deer

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere