The morning was fair and mild and warm for mid-winter. The trail was ours alone, dog and me. The birds were mostly cooperative. And then came ravens.
As usually happens, the ravens announced themselves with croaks and cries. I spied them as they settled into a lone high leafless tree. They sat and called, both of them, before taking wing and circling, circling, then disappearing over the ridge.
Whenever ravens grace me with their presence, I feel blessed.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:56 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
2. Song Sparrow (v)
3. Black-billed Magpie
4. House Finch*
5. American Robin** (v)
6. Spotted Towhee**
7. Black-capped Chickadee**
8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
9. Rock Pigeon*
10. Dark-eyed Junco
11. Common Raven
12. Juniper Titmouse
13. Northern Flicker
Elsewhere
14. European Starling
15. Eurasian collared-dove
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billd magpie, black-capped chickadee, common raven, dark-eyed junco, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, juniper titmouse, lesser goldfinch, mountain cottontail, northern flicker, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
