Another morning with a nice bit of spring migration going on. Jack feelin’ good, what with all the smells, and me feelin’ good, what with all the empids.
Seriously, I didn’t expect any flycatchers (I’ve learned rarely to expect anything), let alone three. First came what I thought might be a Willow Flycatcher or a Western Wood-pewee (neither of which species I’m very familiar with); then came what I thought might be a willow or maybe Hammond’s Flycatcher; finally came what I was pretty sure was another Gray Flycatcher.
The first turned out to be a wood-pewee, the second turned out to be a Dusky Flycatcher—the second I’ve ever encountered. (The first, coincidentally came on 18 May 2020, exactly a year ago.)
Other cool birds, too. Still a little migration excitement left, I’ll bet.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:05 a.m. (8:05 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lazuli Bunting
2. American Robin*
3. Song Sparrow* (v)
4. Black-chinned Hummingbird
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
6. Spotted Towhee
7. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
8. Rock Pigeon
9. Pine Siskin
10. Black-billed Magpie*
11. Mourning Dove
12. Western Wood-pewee†
13. Black-capped Chickadee
14. House Finch**
15. Chipping Sparrow
16. Warbling Vireo
17. Dusky Flycatcher†
18. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v)
19. Black-headed Grosbeak
20. Chukar (v)
21. Lesser Goldfinch**
22. Cooper’s Hawk
23. Gray Flycatcher
24. House Sparrow** (v)
Elsewhere
25. Eurasian Collared-dove (v)
26. California Quail
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, black-throated gray warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California qual, chipping sparrow, chukar, cooper's hawk, dusky flycatcher, Eurasian collared dove, gray flycatcher, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, mountain cottontail, mourning dove, pine siskin, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, song sparrow, spotted towhee, warbling vireo, western wood-pewee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
