Some warmer this morning. Still muddy (reminding me of Maine), and with quite a few bird species right away. Ten species after about ten minutes, in fact—then no more for about an hour or so.
But a couple more toward the end (both heard only). Two corvids, four finches, two chickadees, two sparrows, a thrush, and a woodpecker.
All in all, a lovely hike with dog.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:18 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie 2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 3. Spotted Towhee 4. House Finch** 5. American Robin (v) 6. Dark-eyed Junco* 7. Pine Siskin (v) 8. Northern Flicker 9. American Goldfinch 10. Black-capped Chickadee 11. Lesser Goldfinch** 12. Mountain Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
13. Rock Pigeon 14. European Starling
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
A lovely Saturday morning with a dramatic, partly cloudy sky, a half-inch layer of fresh snow, and a slight breeze. The air tasted clean. Few birds to start—although including a Mountain Chickadee (voice only)—but some high excitement toward the end of our hike, dog and me.
My count was ten species when I spied the Bald Eagle above the rocky ridge. It was a young eagle, and I took a bunch of pictures of it in flight. Less then a minute after it sailed away, I saw another soaring shape—a Common Raven. First raven I’ve seen since June, and I really love those guys, so I have to declare that the highlight of the morning.
Nice to see a couple big birds again.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:21 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie 2. Mountain Chickadee (v) 3. Spotted Towhee 4. House Finch** 5. Dark-eyed Junco 6. Lesser Goldfinch** (v) 7. Northern Flicker 8. Black-capped Chickadee 9. Downy Woodpecker 10. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 11. Bald Eagle 12. Common Raven 13. Rock Pigeon 14. Pine Siskin (v)
Nearly every day for the past week or two, I’ve had a standing a.m. date with a female Downy Woodpecker. She likes to frequent the scorched scrub oaks in and around the burnt patch—the acre or so near the high point of last summer’s little wildfire.
Usually (like this nippy, fresh-snow morning), dog and I will slow and get quiet as we approach this area, and I’ll listen for her gentle tapping. And there it is. And I follow it. And I see her, and take per photo.
I really kind of have a crush on her. (So grateful for my hearing.)
Today also had three finches, two corvids, three sparrows, and a Cooper’s Hawk. Every day’s a different day—each and every one.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:12 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
