I hadn’t managed any decent bird photos in the past few days. Birds had been about, but they would not agree to pose for my camera. Quite a few birds, yesterday. Not as many species today—but two were willing (if not eager) to stick around long enough for portraits.
First was a flicker, in full sunlight. Next was a young Cooper’s Hawk Jack and I had to approach gingerly—as it was preening.
Clean air, cool temps. All-in-all, a lovely morning.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:22 a.m. (8:22 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Brrr, kinda. The temp was about 42° (F) when dog and I hit the trailhead. But the sky was nearly cloudless, and the sun warmed us to the point that I had to unzip my hoodie to get a little air. Certainly a fall-like feeling.
And the birds! There were many. On the one hand, they were cooperative enough to show up; on the other, very few bothered to pose for photos. So here’s a look at another goldfinch (a female this time).
Oh, and I spied a coyote for the first time in a while.
Looking forward to tomorrow’s little excursion.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:16 a.m. (8:16 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
A curiously chilly, breezy, sunny morning. Quite a few species coming up the switchback, but few along the high deer trails. More yellow-rumps, finches, flickers. A flycatcher of some kind popped up nearby for a photo, but my camera would not agree. (Want a new one, dangit.)
But migration’s certainly going on—even in these arid foothills—which gives me a little excitement about tomorrow morning, which will bring sweatshirt weather.
Summer’s almost gone.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:19 a.m. (8:19 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker 2. American Robin 3. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 4. House Finch** 5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Black-billed Magpie (v) 8. Lesser Goldfinch 9. Yellow-rumped Warbler 10. Chipping Sparrow 11. Downy Woodpecker (v) 12. Spotted Towhee 13. European Starling 14. Flycatcher (sp.)
Elsewhere
15. Red-tailed Hawk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
