On this morning’s short, sweet hike up the mountain with Captain Jack, I encountered four Northern Flickers. Still appreciating the red-shafted western race we have out here (though I do kind of miss the yellow-shafted birds I got so familiar with back East). they always grab my attention.
The first three—just below the bluff overlooking the neighborhoo—were, I’m pretty sure, related: first a female popped up, then what looked like a young bird, then a male. All three posed for photos. I heard the fourth bird before I saw it—another female, calling from the top of a scrub oak near the burnt patch from the recent fire.
Encountered a bunch of other nice species—buntings, of course, and towhees. Vireos, finches, gnatcatchers, and a lovely Mourning Dove. But of them all, when our hike was done, the flickers stood out most to me.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:15 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Rock Pigeon*
2. American Robin*
3. Black-chinned Hummingbird
4. Lazuli Bunting
6. Mourning Dove*
7. House Finch**
8. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
9. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
10. Northern Flicker
11. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
12. Spotted Towhee
13. Black-headed Grosbeak (v)
14. Warbling Vireo (v)
15. Pine Siskin (v)
Elsewhere
16. Eurasian Collared Dove
17. House Sparrow
18. California Quail
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California quail, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, mourning dove, northern flicker, pine siskin, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, spotted towhee, warbling vireo
