On a dramatically overcast morning, dog and I climbed the trail we’ve climbed for going on 500 straight days, and there we found a bunch of birds with lovin’ on their minds. Two solitaires duking it out with song; scrub-jays hollering at each other; a titmouse calling from the tip of a juniper; finches pairing up two by two.

Also spied a Mountain Cottontail nibbling on grass, and from across the gulch a Rock Squirrel delivering its loud, repetitive call.

In afternoon, a patch of snow rolled through, but still the Song Sparrow in the little yard sang brightly, hopefully.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:16 a.m. (MST), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
2. Dark-eyed Junco
3. American Robin*
4. Northern Flicker (v)
5. Downy Woodpecker (v)
6. Rock Pigeon*
7. Townsend’s Solitaire
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Spotted Towhee**
10. Black-billed Magpie**
11. House Finch**
12. Juniper Titmouse

Elsewhere

13. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
14. House Sparrow (v)

Mammals

Mountain Cottontail
Rock Squirrel (v)

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