I hadn’t planned to hike with dog to the ridge this morning, but then I caught sight of a Black-throated Gray Warbler. Eager for my first photo of one this spring, I followed the bird uphill, from juniper to juniper, until it flitted back down below. Foiled again.
But while I was up there, I noticed how close we were to a plastic bag I’d seen flapping in the breeze from a scrub oak snag a few days ago. So I climbed higher to grab that annoying bit of litter. Then we encountered a small herd of deer, which moved up to the ridge, and I thought, Why not? Spooked a couple Chukars up there.
First-of-year Hermit Thrush (for sure) this morning. Realized the trill I’ve been hearing the past couple days belonged to an Orange-crowned Warbler. No corvids, oddly—but a total of 18 species.
Tomorrow won’t be so long a hike, but who knows what birds will appear.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:23 a.m. (8:23 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Still snow on the ground from yesterday. Mud on the trails. Chilly, but the sky’e begun to clear. Right away the birds began to announce themselves. Prevailing winds were north-northwesterly, not conducive to easy overnight migration, but there appeared a nice assortment. Also a cottontail.
In a trip to town, a Sharp-shinned Hawk caused the pigeons to skedaddle. Thought I heard another yellow-rump chip, but did not get a look.
Clearer weather on the way, and warmer temps. Anticipation.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:30 a.m. (8:30 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Another overcast but fairly mild morning. Slight breeze, temps in the comfortable 50s (F). Quite a few of the resident bird species, but also a newly arriving Turkey Vulture and some Chipping Sparrows vying for territory up in the junipers.
And mammals. More than one Mountain Cottontail, the usual little family of Mule Deer down in the scrub oak thicket. Dog and I got pretty close to three of them—pretty sure they know us by now—and one elder doe posed for a photo. I’ve come to like knowing I’m regularly in the company of deer.
Rain tomorrow, then clearing and warming. Soon butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, more birds.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:22 a.m. (8:22 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* 2. House Finch** 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. Spotted Towhee 5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Black-billed Magpie 8. Song Sparrow** (v) 9. Broad-tailed Hummingbird (wing-trill) 10. Chipping Sparrow 11. Turkey Vulture 12. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
Elsewhere
13. California Quail 14. European Starling 15. Mallard
Mammals
Red Squirrel Mountain Cottontail Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
