Edit (02/21/2022): I’ve been informed that this is without a doubt a Western Screech Owl. A lifer for me!
I’d been angling for a photo of silent chickadees, as dog and I ascended the snowy trail up wooded Coyote Canyon, when the little birds zipped up ahead and began to call and scold. That’s when I noticed a larger bird shoot down through the tangles to my left to a perch. I aimed my camera at it and saw it was a small owl—but I couldn’t focus because of all the leaves and twigs between us. Again and again I tried, to no avail.
Wish I’d thought to grab my binoculars instead, ’cause then I might’ve managed an ID.
Since this was near the place I saw a Northern Pygmy Owl back in November, I assumed that’s what it was. But in looking at the blurry photos later, I couldn’t be sure. Its face seems to resemble a Northern Saw-whet Owl, but at the time (and in the photos), it looks like this bird has a long tail (the mark of a pygmy owl).
Still kind of leaning toward the latter—but I guess I’ll never know.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:57 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
Kind of windy this morning. Also warmish (30s (F)). Plus, the gray skies were spitting snow. Moreover, we encountered very few birds. But we didn’t care, dog and I—was still an interesting, enjoyable hike.
Evidence of elk or moose.
Did get a photo of a Northern Flicker, but I neglected to scan the Russian olives as we descended in that direction on our return and missed a small accipiter perched there, which dove away before I was near enough to get an ID. (I suspect a sharpie but can’t say for sure.)
Oh, and I found tracks of a large cervid (elk, or possibly moose). Which was cool.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 9:03 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
This day dawned warm (mid- to upper-30s (F)) and mostly overcast. My morning hike brought not many species, but pretty good numbers.
Birds were hopping back at home, though: I had as many species within ear- and eyeshot of my door. Sparrows, robin, chickadee (a species I did not have up the mountain trails)—and, last bird of the day, an American Kestrel, perched on a street light post overlooking the highway, with the city view behind him.
Thanks, kestrel.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 9:05 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
8. Song Sparrow (v) 9. House Sparrow (v 10. American Robin 11. Eurasian Collared-dove 12. European Starling 13. Black-capped Chickadee 14. American Kestrel
Mammals
Rock Squirrel Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere