Dog and I headed up the mountain a bit earlier this morning in hopes of another little wave of spring migrants. But the sky was overcast, and the breeze came from the northwest, and I imagined it wouldn’t be very auspicious.
Then an unfamiliar bird popped up in front of us and perched on a low branch. I froze. Jack (the perfect birder dog) froze. I managed some photos and a video. I had no idea what it was. Maybe a mimic? I thought.
Turns out I was right: my first Sage Thrasher. Didn’t even know they existed.
Also more Orange-crowned Warblers, a Cooper’s Hawk (calling, perhaps near its nest), and I even conjured up a Chukar high on the ridge. Then, to top things off, it began to sprinkle on our return.
I do love a walk in light rain.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Song Sparrow* (v)
2. American Robin*
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
5. Black-billed Magpie
6. Pine Siskin (v)
7. Spotted Towhee
8. Sage Thrasher†
9. Chukar
10. Orange-crowned Warbler
11. House Finch*
12. Chipping Sparrow
13. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
14. Cooper’s Hawk
15. Dark-eyed Junco (v)
16. Northern Flicker* (v)
Elsewhere
17. Eurasian Collared Dove
18. European Starling
19. California Quail
20. Turkey Vulture
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†Life
‡First-of-year bird
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, California quail, chipping sparrow, chukar, cooper's hawk, dark-eyed junco, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, lesser goldfinch, mule deer, northern flicker, Orange-crowned Warbler, pine siskin, sage thrasher, song sparrow, spotted towhee, turkey vulture, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
