Fewer bird species on this morning’s hike with dog, but no matter—still fun. Most entertaining episode (to me, anyway) began as soon as I heard the telltale chip of a Song Sparrow down amid the scrub oaks below the trail. (The species is common down in the neighborhood, but I rarely see them up the slopes.) I knew that chime-like chip, and I spied the bird not far away.
As I wondered what it was doing up there, I heard the little trill-like alarm note of a Western Tanager, perched somewhere across the trail from the sparrow. The tanager’s remarks appeared to interest the sparrow—it fluttered over to where the tanager sat and took a seat itself.
Seems that, especially during migration, I often see different species traveling together, hanging out together, keeping each other company. Usually it’s other little species following chickadees around. (Chickadees are comforting for various reasons.) But other times I notice other species buddying up. (Like yesterday’s three sparrow spp.)
Migration’s slow still, but hoping for more surprises tomorrow.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:09 a.m. (8:09 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
2. Black-chinned Hummingbird*
3. Rock Pigeon*
4. Spotted Towhee
5. Downy Woodpecker
6. Song Sparrow
7. Western Tanager
8. Black-capped Chickadee**
9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
10. Rock Wren
Elsewhere
11. Lesser Goldfinch
12. House Finch (v)
Mammals
Red Squirrel
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, blue-gray gnatcatcher, downy woodpecker, house finch, lesser goldfinch, red squirrel, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, rock wren, song sparrow, spotted towhee, western tanager, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
