This morning’s hike with dog, under overcast skies, had a particularly thrilling moment for me: when I discovered the gnatcatcher’s nest unabandoned.
I’d found the tiny nest a week or so ago, and for a few days saw (and heard) the birds that built it so carefully—albeit right above a fairly busy tail—tending to and guarding it. Then, a few days ago, nothing. I’d assumed they’d decided having humans pass regularly beneath the nest was unacceptable, and had moved on.
Not so. Because there—still and alert, tail raised high—sat what I assume was the female, warming her eggs.
And henceforth—in some illogical attempt to counterbalance the effects of hard-breathing runners, loud talkers, and over-active dogs—Jack and I will tread even more lightly when passing that particular stretch of trail.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. Black-billed Magpie*
3. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
4. Lazuli Bunting
5. California Quail*
6. Spotted Towhee
7. Black-headed Grosbeak
8. Pine Siskin (v)
9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
10. Black-capped Chickadee
11. Mourning Dove
12. Black-chinned Hummingbird
13. Orange-crowned Warbler (v)
14. Chipping Sparrow
15. House Finch*
16. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v)
17. Warbling Vireo (v)
18. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
19. Western Tanager
20. Song Sparrow**
Elsewhere
21. Eurasian Collared Dove
22. European Starling
23. Rock Pigeon
24. House Sparrow
25. Lesser Goldfinch
Mammals
Mule Deer
Small rodent (sp)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, black-throated gray warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher, broad-tailed hummingbird, California quail, chipping sparrow, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, mourning dove, mule deer, Orange-crowned Warbler, pine siskin, rock pigeon, small rodent, song sparrow, spotted towhee, warbling vireo, western tanager, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
