We stepped out early to avoid the Sunday crowds. A bit chillier than yesterday, parts of it overcast and parts of it sunny. Fewer birds than yesterday to start—but up little Coyote Canyon came some strange voices. Not unfamiliar, just unheard for a while.
One trill, in fact, I could not ID. (Some kind of warbler, I believe.) And another—a note—I did not recognize. Saw neither bird. Nor did I see the first-of-year Black-throated Gray warbler that kept singing from the junipers. I might’ve spied it, but we met a friendly, talkative couple coming the other way along the deer trail. At least I pointed out the song to them and told them the name of the little bird.
Mostly sunny later. Still waiting for that bodacious spring migration day.d
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7 a.m. (8 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin
2. Spotted Towhee
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. House Finch**
5. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
6. Lazuli Bunting (v)
7. Rock Pigeon*
8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
9. Chipping Sparrow
10. Orange-crowned Warbler
11. Black-throated Gray Warbler† (v)
12. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
13. Broad-winged Hummingbird (wing-trill)
14. Black-billed Magpie
15. California Quail (v)
Elsewhere
16. Mourning Dove (v)
17. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
Mule Deer
Rock Squirrel
Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American robin, blac-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-throated gray warbler, broad-winged hummingbird, California quail, chipping sparrow, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, mountain cottontail, mourning dove, mule deer, Orange-crowned Warbler, red squirrel, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, ruby-crowned kinglet, spotted towhee, Woodhous’s scrub-jay
