Today’s hike with dog was a good ’un. Cool again in the morning (likely due to the smoke from western fires), yet cloudless (above the smoke), and with an interesting (if smaller) batch of bird species.
No hawk today, no thrush or warbler or sparrow. But, as is typical for the season, a nice contingent of hummingbirds of all ages.
But the bird of the day appeared later, back home, as Jack and I were hanging out in the front yard: a leucistic Eurasian Collared-dove flew up to a guy wire above the house across the street. (Apparently, they’re not uncommon, but it was the first I’ve ever seen.)
Likely more smoke tomorrow, but it should subside in coming days.
[08/13/2021 update: An eBird hummingbird expert corrected my initial ID of female broad-tailed to female Calliope Hummingbird—a lifer for me!]
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:14 a.m. (8:14 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Mourning Dove
2. Black-chinned Hummingbird
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Lazuli Bunting
5. Rock Pigeon
6. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
7. Spotted Towhee (v)
8. House Finch*
9. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
10. Calliope Hummingbird‡
11. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
12. Warbling Vireo
13. Black-billed Magpie*
Elsewhere
14. Eurasian Collared-dove
15. California Quail
16. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
‡Lifer
Tags: black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, blue-gray gnatcatcher, broad-tailed hummingbird, California quail, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, mourning dove, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, spotted towhee, warbling vireo, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
