7 November 2026

Archive for September, 2019

An Odd Thing

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019
song sparrow
Song Sparrow.

It’s an odd thing when I see a familiar eastern bird out here in the Mountain West. This phenomenon extends even to Mourning Doves—but mostly it’s birds like Black-capped Chickadees or (especially) Song Sparrows.

I’ve seen a total of two Song Sparrows in my month (exactly) in Utah, both in a bush out front. Compare that to scores of House Sparrows, House Finches, Black-billed Magpies—even scrub jays. I’ve seen more Lazuli Buntings than Song Sparrows.

It makes them seem more precious somehow (although they’ve always been precious to me).

East Millcreek List
No mountain hike today, but here’s what I saw and/or heard.

1. Black-billed Magpie
2. House Finch
3. House Sparrow
4. Eurasian Collared Dove
5. California Quail
6. Song Sparrow

Slept In

Monday, September 2nd, 2019
House Sparrow at suppertime
House Sparrow at suppertime.

Slept until 8 this holiday Monday, not sure why, but it meant dog and I didn’t get to the trailhead until the sun was already about to top the peak. Still—as alway—a fun and inspiring hike.

Met other hikers (and their dogs), heard (then saw) a male Black-chinned Hummingbird, spotted some old deer bones. Got not great photos up there, though.

However, I did spy on a female House Sparrow at mealtime.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 9 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up the mountain.

1. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
2. Northern Flicker*
3. Mourning Dove
4. Black-capped Chickadee**
5. House Finch*
6. American Goldfinch
7. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (v)
8. Black-chinned Hummingbird

Elsewhere

9. Eurasian Collared Dove
10. California Quail
11. Black-billed Magpie

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

Ah, September

Sunday, September 1st, 2019
The quail walks uphill.
The quail walks uphill.

September is a month of anticipation. Still warm and summery, but with the promise of cooler weather soon. Still a bit quiet on the bird front, but with the promise of fall migration. Still green, but snow will come soon enough.

(Today was a hot one. Dog and I had a couple quick walks, but we didn’t go out seeking bird life. What bird life there was came to us, pretty much.)

East Millcreek List
No mountain hike today, but here’s what I saw and/or heard.

1. House Finch
2. Black-billed Magpie
3. House Sparrow (v)
4. Eurasian Collared Dove
5. Rock Pigeon
6. Lesser Goldfinch
7. California Quail
8. Black-chinned Hummingbird

v = Voice only

 
Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson



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