Chillier than recent days this morning. Frost on everything—the kind of frost with long teeth, as I’ve only seen up here in the high desert—and enough of a breeze to freeze my nose. Quiet, too, although I did hear two Juniper Titmice (and saw one) during the course of the morning.
The most riveting moment, though, was when dog and I rounded the curve overlooking little Coyote Canyon, and I heard the loud, frantic-sounding shook-shook-shook! call of a Steller’s Jay. Got only a glimpse of the bird as it sailed low down the canyon.
Bunch of Black-capped Chickadees, though. They are (and will remain, I’m sure) one of my top few wild bird species.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:17 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. House Finch** (v)
4. Juniper Titmouse
5. Spotted Towhee**
6. Dark-eyed Junco
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
8. Downy Woodpecker
9. Steller’s Jay
Elsewhere
10. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
11. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, house finch, juniper titmouse, spotted towhee, Steller’s jay, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
