A bright morning, temps about 45 (F) or so. Slight breeze. Looked like the overnight wind directly was more or less southerly, so I thought it possible a new migrant or two might pop up somewhere.
Welp, two did.
The first was a Chipping Sparrow that popped up in a juniper along the deer trail as I was looking to spot a junco. Was a lovely surprise.
The second was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that popped up on our return hike (by which time the temperature was much warmer). Actually heard the bird first, then spied it—also in a juniper.
I’d forgotten how much joy first-of year spring migrants bring.
Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:58 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin*
2. House Finch*
3. Spotted Towhee
4. Black-capped Chickadee**
5. Rock Pigeon
6. Pine Siskin** (v)
7. Black-billed Magpie*
8. Northern Flicker (v)
9. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
10. California Quail* (v)
11. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
12. Cooper’s Hawk
13. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
14. Dark-eyed Junco
15. Chipping Sparrow
16. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
17. Turkey Vulture
Elsewhere
18. Eurasian Collared-dove
19. House Sparrow
20. European Starling
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, blue-gray gnatcatcher, chipping sparrow, cooper's hawk, dark-eyed junco, Eurasian collred dove, house finch, house sparrow, lesser goldfinch, mule deer, northern flickler, pine siskin, rock pigeon, ruby-crowned kinglet, spotted towhee, turkey vulture, Woodhouse’s scrub-jay California quail
