On an exceptionally quiet morning, the Broad-winged Hummingbirds were out and about. Even before we reached the cool shade of Coyote Canyon, I heard that familiar cricket-like wing-trill.
Since that wing-trill sounds like it’s coming from everywhere, it generally takes a few minutes to spot an actual hummingbird. (At least it takes me that long.) But I finally spotted one—an immature male perched above the trail in front of dog and me. Then I spied a male in silhouette, spreading its wings and tail.
Finally, the male—which, by the way, followed us a hundred yards or so up the valley—perched in full view and flashed the read feathers of his throat.
Apparently summer is the season of broad-tails.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
2. Rock Pigeon*
3. Mourning Dove
4. Black-chinned Hummingbird
5. American Robin
6. Mountain Chickadee
7. Spotted Towhee
8. House Finch*
9. Pine Siskin
10. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
11. Lazuli Bunting
12. Black-capped Chickadee
13. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
14. Cooper’s Hawk
15. Eurasian Collared Dove
Elsewhere
16. House Sparrow
17. Barn Swallow
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, barn swallow, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, blue-gray gnatcatcher, broad-tailed hummingbird, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, mountain chickadee, mountain cottontail, mourning dove, pine siskin, red squirrel, rock pigeon, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
