A warmish morning, this one—but windy. Just about the windiest hiking conditions I believe I’ve experienced since moving here last August. I’d estimate 30 mph winds. Which actually felt nice up on the ridge, but made for poorer birding than yesterday.
But more species on my list somehow. Nothing outlandish, a few sightings fleeting, no great photos. Still fun, though.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
A morning much like yesterday’s, but dog and I got to the trail earlier. It didn’t mean more species, but it mixed ’em up a bit.
Most interesting was a pair of Rock Wrens in the little old lime quarry (I assume that’s what it was) overlooking the neighborhood—same place I saw my first several weeks ago. My hope is they’ll nest there so I can hear their songs.
Elsewhere, the usual nesters and singers—less any raptors or more than one warbler. Still and all, a very good day.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Broad-tailed Hummingbird 2. Black-billed Magpie* 3. American Robin* 4. Lazuli Bunting 5. Spotted Towhee 6. Mourning Dove 7. Black-capped Chickadee 8. Pine Siskin (v) 9. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 10. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 11. Rock Wren 12. Black-headed Grosbeak 13. Chipping Sparrow 14. Black-chinned Hummingbird 15. Orange-crowned Warbler (v) 16. California Quail* 17. House Finch* 18. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)
Elsewhere
19. Song Sparrow 20. Eurasian Collared Dove 21. European Starling
Mammals
None
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Our daily hiking trails, dog’s and mine, belong to the Spotted Towhee. When it comes to birds, that is. At least when it comes common singing and nesting birds. I must see or hear at least a dozen nesting pairs a every day up there. I’m a fan.
(This is similar to the Eastern Towhees of our old Maine trail—arguably the commonest nesting species at Beech Hill. Used to be the two species were considered one.)
But I’m also a fan of the chippie I heard, then tracked down up a deer trail. And the Mourning Dove cooing from somewhere up the side of the gultch. (Not a lot of those here, what with the infusion of Eurasian Collared Doves.)
And also the cottontail we spooked on our return trip along a shady stretch. Those little buns are fast.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:15 a.m., I hiked some 1,500 feet up a mountain.
1. Song Sparrow** (v) 2. American Robin* 3. Black-capped Chickadee** 4. Black-billed Magpie* 5. Spotted Towhee 6. Northern Flicker (v) 7. Dark-eyed Junco 8. House Finch* (v) 9. Chipping Sparrow 10. Pine Siskin (v) 11. Mourning Dove (v) 12. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 13. Wood-warbler (sp) 14. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
Elsewhere
15. Eurasian Collared Dove (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
