Last night’s front brought a tiny bit of rain and cooled things off considerably. However, the sun being bright this morning, dog and I embarked on a ridge hike.
Along the way—in the lower elevations, where the scrub oak grows—we passed many Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. I love this little birds. They flit, they flash their tails, the travel in betrothed pairs (or seem to), the have wee, antic, plaintive voices. Last year I knew of a nest along the trail. Hoping for another this year.
Otherwise, although no first-of-years, a bunch of species on this morning’s list. Still expecting something of an influx when the warmth takes hold again.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:31 a.m. (8:31 MDT), I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. Lazuli Bunting
3. Spotted Towhee
4. Black-billed Magpie*
5. Black-chinned Hummingbird
6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
7. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
8. Song Sparrow** (v)
9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
10. Virginia’s Warbler (v)
11. Chipping Sparrow
12. Black-capped Chickadee
13. House Finch*
14. Cooper’s Hawk
15. Orange-crowned Warbler
16. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v)
17. Black-headed Grosbeak (v)
18. Broad-tailed Hummingbird (wing-trill)
19. Pine Siskin (v)
20. Mourning Dove
Elsewhere
21. California Quail
22. European Starling
23. Eurasian Collared-dove (v)
24. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, blac-headed grosbeak, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-throated gray warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher, broad-tailed hummingbird, California quail, chipping sparrow, cooper's hawk, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, mourning dove, Orange-crowned Warbler, pine siskin, rock pigeon, song sparrow, spotted towhee, Virginia’s warbler, Woodhous’s scrub-jay
