First full autumn hike this morning. (Yesterday’s began in summer.) Cool enough, but smoky air still—partly from the Neff’s Canyon fire, which is till burning. But also some early excitement.
Up at the old lime quarry [note: I’m assuming that’s what it is, having not yet received verification], within ten minutes of beginning, I heard—then saw—a Rock Wren. (Getting to know its voice, which is kind of delightful.) It saw us, as is its habit pumped its head, then fluttered over a rock and away. But then another wren popped up from within the quarry hole (at least I assume it was a second bird, although it’d be the first pair I’ve seen together). Managed to snap some kind of bad photos.
But about fifty feet farther along the trail, I froze. There, perched in the open, was an adult Cooper’s Hawk. Aha! Perhaps that’s what was making the wren(s?) all anxious—not dog and me, after all.
(Later, passing the quarry on our return, I snagged a decent Rock Wren photo.)
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:25 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch*
2. Mourning Dove*
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Black-capped Chickadee
5. Spotted Towhee
6. Rock Wren
7. Cooper’s Hawk
8. Northern Flicker**
9. Mountain Chickadee
10. American Robin
11. Black-billed Magpie*
12. Lesser Goldfinch* (v)
Elsewhere
13. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, cooper's hawk, house finch, lesser goldfinch, mountain chickadee, mourning dove, northern flicker, rock pigeon, rock wren, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
