I missed the moose—but I spied a Bald Eagle, heard the voices of Chukars, and had more birds on my list than I have in a while.

Right away when we arrived at the trailhead under a deep blue sky, I heard tell of the excitement over the moose, which was spotted to the north a ways nearly to I-80. As I understand it, moose aren’t exactly rare here, but they’re not as common as elk—which are nowhere near as common as mule deer. I did see mule deer (a couple at close range).

I missed the moose, though. Good thing I saw a few back in Maine.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.

1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. House Finch*
5. Lesser Goldfinch**
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Song Sparrow (v)
8. American Robin
9. Chukar (v)
10. Bald Eagle

Elsewhere

11. Rock Pigeon
12. California Gull
13. European Starling
14. House Finch

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