Toward the end of my lovely, even warmer (albeit earlier) morning hike with dog, I still had only seven species on my list. Perhaps it was the dryness, or the earlier hour, or both, but most of the wildlife activity involved deer—about twenty of them roaming quite near us.
Then I spied the Rock Wren. Just yesterday, I’m pretty sure, I wondered when I’d see one by the old Monarch Quarry—and this one popped up quite near that hole. Every migration I see them there. First-of-year bird.
Then, coming down the switchback, I spied a kestrel, headed north. And then I heard the call of a collared-dove.
Tomorrow should similarly, unseasonably warm. What new bird will I see?
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:30 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Spotted Towhee
2. American Robin*
3. House Finch*
4. Rock Pigeon
5. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)
6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
7. Northern Flicker**
8. Rock Wren†
9. American Kestrel
10. Eurasian Collared-dove**
Elsewhere
14. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
15. Black-billed Magpie (v)
16. European Starling
17. Song Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also Elsewhere
**Voice only Elsewhere
Tags: American kestrel, American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, lesser goldfinch, mule deer, northern flicker, rock pigeon, rock wren, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
