A mostly overcast morning for a change. Rather warm, with just a touch of humidity made evident by some moistness on my arms. A good hike with dog.
Most impressive to start with was a cooperative female Black-headed Grosbeak who perched with a wasp in her beak for a good long time while I angled for a photo. I suspect there’re nestlings nearby, and she didn’t want Jack or me (or any other threatening critter) to follow her to that important place. (Just a wild-ass guess.)
Otherwise, saw a Cooper’s Hawk zip by, then heard another at the nest above the gully give a cry in expectation. I’m imagining they have nestlings, too. Maybe.
Back home, the magpie nestlings keep hollering at their exhausted-looking parents. One male (I assume) youngster constantly pesters his smaller mom (I assume) to put the food directly in his mouth, like she used to.
Also saw an adult with a good-sized mouse (or other rodent), dead in its beak. Magpies are omnivorous corvids, after all.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:16 a.m. (8:16 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Song Sparrow* (v)
2. Spotted Towhee
3. Rock Pigeon*
4. Black-headed Grosbeak
5. American Robin* (v)
6. Lazuli Bunting
7. Black-chinned Hummingbird
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
10. House Finch**
11. Cooper’s Hawk
12. Warbling Vireo
13. Black-billed Magpie* (v)
14. Chipping Sparrow (v)
Elsewhere
15. Eurasian Collared-dove
16. European Starling
17. House Sparrow
18. California Quail
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickaee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California quail, chipping sparrow, Cooper’s hawk, Eurasian collared-dove, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, song sparrow, spotted towhee, warbling vireo
