On our hike this lovely morning, dog and I encountered fewer bird species—but the air held plenty of birdsong. All because of a feeding frenzy.
We got scolded by buntings and gnatcatchers and Warbling Vireos. Only got a glimpse or two of the vireos—but the faint, high-pitched voices of their new fledglings were an apparent reason for that.
No magpies and just one scrub-jay (voice only)—meaning they and their offspring have long abandoned the nest.
Meanwhile, a Chipping Sparrow sat silently on a juniper stem, waiting for dog and human to pass so he could bring breakfast to the young ’uns.
It’s a seasonal imperative.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:30 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-headed Grosbeak
2. Lazuli Bunting
3. Rock Pigeon
4. Black-chinned Hummingbird*
5. Spotted Towhee
6. House Finch**
7. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v)
10. Warbling Vireo (v)
11. Chipping Sparrow
12. Cooper’s Hawk
13. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
14. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
Elsewhere
15. Eurasian Collared Dove
16. American Robin
17. California Quail
18. Song Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, blac-headed grosbeak, blac-throated gray warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California quail, chipping sparrow, Cooper’s hawk, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhe, warbling vireo, Woodhouse’s scrub=jay
