Started up the switchback a little later than the past few days. The morning was warmer—right about freezing—and the birds seemed to like the (brief) reprieve: dozens of juncos, singing finches, vocal jays, a pair of eagles—the cool thing being the eagles were of differing species.
First I happened to spy a high-flying Golden Eagle circling above the cairn ridge, then ten or fifteen minutes saw it again—that is, I assumed it was the same bird. Turned out to be a Bald Eagle (a species I see far less frequently than goldens).
The bald appeared just to be passing through.
At 09:37 MST, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Backyard Song Sparrow.
A morning much like the last three, or four, or five. Bright sun, nippy temperatures, icy trails, bad air in the basin—and enough wildlife to draw dog’s and my attention.
A few robins have been hanging out. Chickadees and finches have been singing. Winter’s closing in on half over.
No birds would pose for my camera today, though, but I found an obliging sparrow at home.
I do love Song Sparrows. I’d like to thank them from being close by.
For a Saturday, the foothills were rather lonesome this morning. Dog and I encountered a trail runner we pass frequently, but otherwise just some deer and a nice little gang of birds.
The most abundant species? Dark-eyed Junco—flitting about in the twiggy scrub oak and munching on grass seed and such. Also a little gang of goldfinches, some chickadees, and the usual pair of corvids.
All under an exceptionally cloudless sky.
