A little windy this morning, and few birds to start. As the sun topped the ridge and the air warmed up, more of the usual resident suspects made appearances—especially buntings and towhees.
It’s pretty dry, though. Drought conditions, in fact. Throughout the western states. Summer-like fire warnings with a couple weeks left in spring. Things are still green, and dragonflies are out, and pollinators are tending to multitudes of high desert flowers. But when draught comes to the high desert, there’s room for a little concern.
Still Nature knows what she’s doing. All life’s connected. And precipitation will come. Eventually.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:24 a.m. (8:24 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch**
2. Lazuli Bunting
3. Black-chinned Hummingbird
4. Black-headed Grosbeak (v)
5. Spotted Towhee
6. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
7. Chipping Sparrow
8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
9. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v)
10. Warbling Vireo
11. Black-billed Magpie*
12. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
13. Western Wood-pewee
14. American Robin* (v)
15. Downy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
16. European Starling
17. California Quail
18. House Sparrow
19. Mourning Dove
20. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, black-throated gray warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California quail, chipping sparrow, downy woodpecker, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, mourning dove, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, spotted towhee, warbling vireo, western wood-pewee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
