Dog and I started early, what with a hot day forecast. Sure enough it was cloudless, but here on the east side of the basin, we’ve got the mountain shade early—and a little bit of a breeze kept things about room temperature on our way up to the ridge, where I decided we could climb for a change.
And climb we did. Had plenty of water for Jack, and most of the hike was in shadow. (The sunny spots were a little toasty.) Quite a few birds out early—I figure they didn’t want to have to brave the afternoon heat. Which, by the way, reached 100° (F). (Tomorrow’s supposed to get to 101°, and the day after 102°.)
It’ll be a drought-ravaged year here in the west, but still we’ll go out hiking. (Early.)
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:03 a.m. (8:03 MDT), I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. Lazuli Bunting
4. Black-chinned Hummingbird
5. House Finch**
6. Spotted Towhee
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
8. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
9. Rock Pigeon
10. Black-billed Magpie*
11. Black-headed Grosbeak (v)
12. Chipping Sparrow
13. Western Wood-pewee
14. Western Tanager (v)
15. Warbling Vireo
16. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v)
17. Mourning Dove (wing whistle)
18. Orange-crowned Warbler (v)
19. Cooper’s Hawk
Elsewhere
20. California Quail
21. Song Sparrow (v)
22. European Starling
23. Eurasian Collared-dove
24. Barn Swallow
25. House Sparrow
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, barn swallow, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, black-throated gray warbler, blue-ray gnatcatcher, California quail, chpping sparrow, cooper's hawk, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, mountain cottontail, mourning dove, Orange-crowned Warbler, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, song sparrow, spotted towhee, warbling vireo, western tanager, western wood-pewee
