24 March 2023

Archive for April, 2021

Anticipation

Tuesday, April 27th, 2021
Dark-eyed Junco, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 27 April 2021.
Dark-eyed Junco.

Still snow on the ground from yesterday. Mud on the trails. Chilly, but the sky’e begun to clear. Right away the birds began to announce themselves. Prevailing winds were north-northwesterly, not conducive to easy overnight migration, but there appeared a nice assortment. Also a cottontail.

In a trip to town, a Sharp-shinned Hawk caused the pigeons to skedaddle. Thought I heard another yellow-rump chip, but did not get a look.

Clearer weather on the way, and warmer temps. Anticipation.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:30 a.m. (8:30 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. House Finch**
2. Dark-eyed Junco
3. Townsend’s Solitaire
4. Spotted Towhee**
5. American Robin*
6. Black-capped chickadee**
7. Song Sparrow** (v)
8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
9. Rock Pigeon*
10. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
11. Broad-tailed Hummingbird (wing-trill)
12. Cooper’s Hawk
13. Northern Flicker (v)
14. Chipping Sparrow (v)

Elsewhere

15. Black-billed Magpie
16. European Starling
17. Sharp-shinned Hawk
18. Eurasian Collared-dove
19. Mourning Dove
20. California Quail (v)

Mammals

Mountain Cottontail

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

April Showers

Monday, April 26th, 2021
Back yard Song Sparrow, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 26 April 2021.
Back yard Song Sparrow.

As forecast, the morning brought sprinkles. Dog and I high-tailed it up the switchback before the rain became too steady. Nobody up there except us and five bird species. It was a quick hike—not much more than an hour. Didn’t get too wet, got a little muddy.

In afternoon, it snowed a bit, just enough to whiten the roofs and yards. I happened to see the resident pair of Song Sparrows, who didn’t seem at all perturbed by the weather.

In a week it’ll be a sunny 80° (F).

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:05 a.m. (8:05 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. American Robin**
2. House Finch** (v)
3. Spotted Towhee
4. Song Sparrow* (v)
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay

Elsewhere

6. California Quail
7. Black-capped Chickadee (v)

Mammals

Red squirrel

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

In the Company of Deer

Sunday, April 25th, 2021
Mule Deer, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 25 April 2021.
Mule Deer.
Chipping Sparrow, East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah, 25 April 2021.
Chipping Sparrow.

Another overcast but fairly mild morning. Slight breeze, temps in the comfortable 50s (F). Quite a few of the resident bird species, but also a newly arriving Turkey Vulture and some Chipping Sparrows vying for territory up in the junipers.

And mammals. More than one Mountain Cottontail, the usual little family of Mule Deer down in the scrub oak thicket. Dog and I got pretty close to three of them—pretty sure they know us by now—and one elder doe posed for a photo. I’ve come to like knowing I’m regularly in the company of deer.

Rain tomorrow, then clearing and warming. Soon butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, more birds.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:22 a.m. (8:22 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. American Robin*
2. House Finch**
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Spotted Towhee
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
6. Rock Pigeon*
7. Black-billed Magpie
8. Song Sparrow** (v)
9. Broad-tailed Hummingbird (wing-trill)
10. Chipping Sparrow
11. Turkey Vulture
12. Lesser Goldfinch (v)

Elsewhere

13. California Quail
14. European Starling
15. Mallard

Mammals

Red Squirrel
Mountain Cottontail
Mule Deer

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

 
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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