"Highly curious and always on the lookout..."

"...Gray Jays eat just about anything...may even land on your hand to grab a raisin or peanut."
-the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

July 18, 2001

It was after hiking nine miles miles mostly above tree line, and over four of its larger peaks, that I discovered this warning about the White Mountain National Forest:

Not to worry.  It turned out to be a beautiful day:

I could even see the Cog Train creeping up the valley:

And New Hampshire's Washington Hotel (the white blob in the middle):

And my first encounter with the gregarious, northern bird called a Gray Jay (gray blob on the tiny tree):

This bird, a virtual greyscale version of the Blue Jay, behaved in what is typical of most Gray Jays in that he was very curious.  I was sitting at this overlook of the Zeacliff area, eating some supper, and the bird watched me the whole time.  Seemed very friendly, and won me over as a fan of this people-friendly bird.