Dog and I hiked a bit later this morning, in weather much like yesterday’s—but with a veil of clouds and a breeze. And a goodly number of bird species. Also more deer: more than a dozen in the junipers, despite the unseasonable heat and dryness.
Most noteworthy was the glimpse I got a glimpse of a Northern Harrier in flight (I’ve only seen one or two here), but most fun was a little chase I had with a Rock Wren, I suspect (but can’t be sure) the same bird as yesterday. Also two doves, and a first-in-a-while Downy Woodpecker.
I’m advised to expect a little rain and more seasonable temperatures this coming week. Of course I’ll hike in any weather.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:56 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker** (v) 2. American Robin* 3. House Finch* 4. Spotted Towhee 5. Rock Pigeon 6. Rock Wren 7. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 8. Black-billed Magpie** 10. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 11. Pine Siskin (v) 12. Northern Harrier† 13. Dark-eyed Junco 14. California Quail (v) 15. Downy Woodpecker (v) 16. Mourning Dove (wing whistle)
Elsewhere
14. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 15. European Starling
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail Mule Deer Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only *Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere
Toward the end of my lovely, even warmer (albeit earlier) morning hike with dog, I still had only seven species on my list. Perhaps it was the dryness, or the earlier hour, or both, but most of the wildlife activity involved deer—about twenty of them roaming quite near us.
Then I spied the Rock Wren. Just yesterday, I’m pretty sure, I wondered when I’d see one by the old Monarch Quarry—and this one popped up quite near that hole. Every migration I see them there. First-of-year bird.
Then, coming down the switchback, I spied a kestrel, headed north. And then I heard the call of a collared-dove.
Tomorrow should similarly, unseasonably warm. What new bird will I see?
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:30 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Spotted Towhee 2. American Robin* 3. House Finch* 4. Rock Pigeon 5. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 7. Northern Flicker** 8. Rock Wren† 9. American Kestrel 10. Eurasian Collared-dove**
Elsewhere
14. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 15. Black-billed Magpie (v) 16. European Starling 17. Song Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere
And I don’t mean just juncos (although there were a bunch of those). Today’s nippy. cloudless hike with Captain Jack was a fun one. A cold-and-snowy snap combined with a dwindling photoperiod has kept the migrants moving right along.
Scores of robins today, plus the usual ’rumps, kinglets, and the aforementioned juncos. But also a young sharpy and—last but not least—a solitary Rock Wren. Pretty sure it’s the first of the species I’ve ever seen surrounded by (semi-fresh) snow.
I kinda wish every morning could be like this one. (Not really, but what an inspiration.)
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:06 a.m. (9:06 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin 2. House Finch** 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v) 4. Yellow-rumped Warbler 5. Rock Pigeon* 6. Pine Siskin 7. Sharp-shinned Hawk 8. Northern Flicker 9. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 10. Black-billed Magpie* 11. Black-capped Chickadee 12. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 13. White-crowned Sparrow 14. Dark-eyed Junco 15. Rock Wren
Elsewhere
16. Townsend’s Solitaire 17. Song Sparrow
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
