Third cloudless day in a row. The trails are dry now, the temperature rising. Birds are changing their behavior a bit: California Quail calling for the first time this year, finches flying up into the juniper barrens again, robins moving through. Many robins.
My minor birding dramas involved chasing a pair of nuthatches, a Juniper Titmouse, and a Mountain Chickadee. Only got a glimpse of the titmouse. But the morning invigorated dog and me.
And the photoperiod continues to lengthen. And migrating birds will arrive.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:40 a.m. (8:40 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Song Sparrow** (v)
2. California Quail* (v)
3. American Robin**
4. House Finch**
5. Rock Pigeon*
6. Spotted Towhee
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Juniper Titmouse
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch
11. Mountain Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
12. Eurasian Collared-dove
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-capped chickadee, California quail, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, juniper titmouse, mountain chickadee, mountain cottontail, red-breasted nuthatch, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
