Warbler sightings—so common back in Maine—are worthy of celebration here in the high desert. Today I spied a rather common one that nonetheless kind of made my day.
As has often happened lately, I’d stumbled on a very active patch of greenery—many gnatcatchers, a couple of grosbeaks, curious buntings, at least one hummingbird. Although we were in the shade of the mountain, dog and I, the flash of color caught my eye: a Yellow Warbler.
It was the first Yellow Warbler I’d seen since last year sometime (and only the third or fourth I’ve seen in Utah). Posed for a photo, too.
Yesterday it was a Virginia’s Warbler. A couple days before that, a quiet black-throated gray. Fact is, I see more Lazuli Buntings on any given hike than warbler species—by far.
(Fact is, that rarity enhances the thrill.)
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Rock Pigeon*
2. Black-chinned Hummingbird
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Mourning Dove*
5. Lazuli Bunting
6. Spotted Towhee
7. House Finch**
8. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
9. Black-headed Grosbeak
10. Yellow Warbler
11. Black-capped Chickadee
12. American Robin*
13. Pine Siskin (v)
14. Warbling Vireo
15. Chipping Sparrow
16. Northern Flicker* (v)
Elsewhere
17. Black-billed Magpie
18. California Quail
19. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Rock Squirrel (v)
American Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American red squirrel, American robin, blac-capped chickadee, black-billed magpie, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California quail, chipping sparow, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, mourning dove, northern flicker, pine siskin, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, spotted towhee, warbling vireo, Woodhouse’s scrub jay, yellow warbler
