During this morning’s bright, breezy hike with dog, I encountered more wild birds than I have since at least last fall. Quite a few species, too—but I’ve had more species on my list this year. Just not as many individual birds.*
The youngsters have been sprung free.
Many young finches, many young robins, random other juvie birds—along with the usual high number of buntings and towhees. By my count, 107 individuals—among them (today’s highlight) a curious Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Can hardly wait to see what tomorrow will bring.
*Not counting large flocks of Rock Pigeons.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:45 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lazuli Bunting
2. House Finch*
3. Black-headed Grosbeak
4. Black-billed Magpie*
5. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
6. Black-chinned Hummingbird
7. American Robin*
8. Spotted Towhee
9. Pine Siskin
10. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
11. Black-capped Chickadee
12. Warbling Vireo (v)
13. Black-throated Gray Warbler
14. Chipping Sparrow
15. Violet-green Swallow
16. Cooper’s Hawk
17. Song Sparrow** (v)
18. Sharp-shinned Hawk
19.Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
Elsewhere
20. Eurasian Collared Dove
21. Brown-headed Cowbird
22. Rock Pigeon
23. House Sparrow
24. Cliff Swallow
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, blac-throated gray warbler, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, blue-gray gnatcatcher, brown-headed cowbird, chipping sparrow, cliff swallow, cooper's hawk, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, pine siskin, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, sharp-shinned hawk, song sparrow, spotted towhee, violet-green swallow, warbling vireo, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
