Sure enough snowed last night, about an inch. Barely freezing, though, and little breeze. Dog and I had a pretty nice hike.
Few birds at all (most down in the neighborhood), but a whole bunch of deer. In fact, we surprised a group of ten (and ourselves) when coming around a curve. But we all just looked at each other—a few deer even resumed browsing. Nobody ran away.
Had a report of elk, but it was too foggy up high to see much. On our return, I had my first bird photos (big flock of siskins, and a scrub-jay), but the best ones were of the deer.
Gonna chill down tomorrow, or so they say.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 08:45 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch*
2. Dark-eyed Junco
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Rock Pigeon*
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
6. Pine Siskin (v)
7. American Robin
8. Black-billed Magpie** (v)
9. Spotted Towhee (v)
Elsewhere
10. Eurasian Collared-dove (v)
11. Lesser Goldfinch
12. Song Sparrow
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, lesser goldfinch, mule deer, pine siskin, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
