I first set foot outside each morning after feeding Captain Jack. The two of us do, dog and I. Often daylight has only half brightened the sky. If not too dark, I’ll bring my camera, just in case a bird flies by.
This morning, it happened. First I heard its cry, then saw it approach—a hawk, a Cooper’s Hawk, flying low from the southwest, flying over our heads. It perched in a tree on the neighbor’s property. Despite the dim light, I got a surprisingly clear photo.
Otherwise this warmish (above freezing) morning, there were few photo ops. So I’d like to publicly thank this early morning accipiter—the first bird.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 9 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie*
2. American Robin (v)
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Northern Flicker (v)
5. Rock Pigeon*
6. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
7. Dark-eyed Junco
8. Spotted Towhee
9. House Finch**
Mammals
Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, house finch, northern flicker, red squirrel, rock pigeon, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
