Another morning much like the last few: chilly, cloudless, bright. Dog and I got started a little later to emerge earlier from the mountain shade, saw some good birds, and encountered a surprise.
Noteworthy: I saw and/or heard ten yellow-rumps. (They’re harder to photograph in a wide open landscape, but I like having them around.) Only one towhee, but many finches. No sparrows. A red-tail on a utility pole down below.
On our return, I happened to catch sight of what looked to me, at the time, like some kind of hornets nest. Snapped a few pics. Hours later, when I finally checked my photos, I discovered—much to my astonishment—that it appeared to be some kind of bat. Decided it was a Silver-haired Bat (might well be wrong).
A surprisingly auspicious first hike of fall.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:29 a.m. (8:29 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch
2. Black-billed Magpie**
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
4. Yellow-rumped Warbler
5. Rock Pigeon*
6. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
7. Northern Flicker (v)
8. Spotted Towhee (v)
9. Lesser Goldfinch
10. American Robin
11. Red-tailed Hawk
Elsewhere
12. California Quail
13. House Sparrow
14. Barn Swallow
15. European Starling
Mammals
Silver-haired Bat [I think]
Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, barn swallow, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, California quail, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, northern flicker, red squirrel, red-tailed hawk, rock pigeon, silver-haired bat, spotted towhee, Woodhouse’s scrub jay, yellow-rumped warbler
