This morning was coool. Both figuratively and literally. Temps in the upper-60s (F) for much of our hike—most all of it, in fact, until we emerged in the sun on the deer trail on our return, dog and I. Moreover, some cool wild stuff showed up.
More than the usual number of birds were out enjoying the coolness as we headed up the switchback. (The usual suspects, but still.) I wondered if a cottontail might take advantage of the cool shade—and there it was, a bunny in the grass. On up the trail flitted bird families (as evidenced by the slight chips of youngsters and bright chips of their parents). Saw tracks in the dry dust of what appeared to be a quail.
Coming up lush little Coyote Canyon, I heard a singing vireo—and the sudden cry of a Cooper’s Hawk. Soon after we turned onto the deer trail, I heard it again. Then two—what sounded like a fledgling, and the other an adult. Out came the adult, calling ki-ki-ki-ki-ki! (Trying to get the fledgling to fly, was my guess). Then it posed for a photo.
If this morning’s hike were a short movie, I’d watch it again.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 6:37 a.m. (7:37 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch*
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
3. Rock Pigeon*
4. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
5. Lazuli Bunting
6. Black-chinned Hummingbird
7. Mourning Dove
8. Lesser Goldfinch**
9. Spotted Towhee
10. Black-billed Magpie**
11. Black-headed Grosbeak
12. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
13. Warbling Vireo
14. Cooper’s Hawk
Elsewhere
15. Eurasian Collared-dove (v)
16. California Quail
17. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Red Squirrel
Mountain Cottontail
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: blac-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California quail, cooper's hawk, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, mountain cottontail, mourning dove, red squirrel, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, spotted towhee, warbling vireo, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
