Wind again last night, but it subsided a bit by morning. Overcast, but none of yesterday’s buckets of precipitation—rather the promise of some light snow showers. Dog and I headed up the switchback into a morning of fickle weather.

A little breeze, some patches of blue, then a smattering of icy snowflakes that made a pattering sound on last year’s old bigtooth maple leaves, then the snow stopped. Muddy trails still, but many more interesting birds—including a pair of hawk species, three dozen robins, a pair of finches gathering nest material, and a Vesper Sparrow.

That was the funnest moment—near the end of our hike. I thought it a Song Sparrow at first glance as it hopped along the trail ahead of us, visiting grassy patches. (Must confess I didn’t make the ID until looking at photos later.)

More interesting weather tomorrow, so I’m told.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:45 a.m. (8:45 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. American Robin*
2. Spotted Towhee
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Northern Flicker** (v)
5. House Finch*
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Black-capped Chickadee*
8. Red-tailed Hawk
9. Cooper’s Hawk (v)
10. Vesper Sparrow†
11. Song Sparrow* (v)
12. Rock Pigeon*

Elsewhere

13. House Sparrow (v)
14. Eurasian Collared-dove (v)
15. Black-billed Magpie
16. Sharp-shinned Hawk
17. European Starling
18. Lesser Goldfinch

Mammals

Red Squirrel (v)

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird