Dog and I hiked a bit later this morning, in weather much like yesterday’s—but with a veil of clouds and a breeze. And a goodly number of bird species. Also more deer: more than a dozen in the junipers, despite the unseasonable heat and dryness.
Most noteworthy was the glimpse I got a glimpse of a Northern Harrier in flight (I’ve only seen one or two here), but most fun was a little chase I had with a Rock Wren, I suspect (but can’t be sure) the same bird as yesterday. Also two doves, and a first-in-a-while Downy Woodpecker.
I’m advised to expect a little rain and more seasonable temperatures this coming week. Of course I’ll hike in any weather.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:56 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker** (v) 2. American Robin* 3. House Finch* 4. Spotted Towhee 5. Rock Pigeon 6. Rock Wren 7. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 8. Black-billed Magpie** 10. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 11. Pine Siskin (v) 12. Northern Harrier† 13. Dark-eyed Junco 14. California Quail (v) 15. Downy Woodpecker (v) 16. Mourning Dove (wing whistle)
Elsewhere
14. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 15. European Starling
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail Mule Deer Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only *Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere
Toward the end of my lovely, even warmer (albeit earlier) morning hike with dog, I still had only seven species on my list. Perhaps it was the dryness, or the earlier hour, or both, but most of the wildlife activity involved deer—about twenty of them roaming quite near us.
Then I spied the Rock Wren. Just yesterday, I’m pretty sure, I wondered when I’d see one by the old Monarch Quarry—and this one popped up quite near that hole. Every migration I see them there. First-of-year bird.
Then, coming down the switchback, I spied a kestrel, headed north. And then I heard the call of a collared-dove.
Tomorrow should similarly, unseasonably warm. What new bird will I see?
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:30 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Spotted Towhee 2. American Robin* 3. House Finch* 4. Rock Pigeon 5. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 7. Northern Flicker** 8. Rock Wren† 9. American Kestrel 10. Eurasian Collared-dove**
Elsewhere
14. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 15. Black-billed Magpie (v) 16. European Starling 17. Song Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere
Something changed overnight. The planet had another rotation, and because of its revolution around the sun, the photoperiod lengthened slightly. And a butterfly showed up this afternoon. A deer appeared in front of the house, ambling toward town. And the birds went just a little bit spring-crazy.
Scrub-jays looking for places to cache things. A Steller’s Jay in the junipers. Two solitaires up along the deer trails, but just one deer. First red-tail in a while. A random raven. Four mammals. At home, a pair quail this morning, and an eagle this afternoon. Temps on the rise.
Sproing!
Grandeur Peak Area List At 8:06 a.m. (9:06 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker 2. House Finch* 3. Dark-eyed Junco 4. Rock Pigeon* 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. Pine Siskin (v) 7. American Robin* 8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay* 9. Red-tailed Hawk 10. Black-billed Magpie 11. Spotted Towhee** 12. Steller’s Jay 13. Townsend’s Solitaire 14. Common Raven
Elsewhere
15. House Sparrow (v) 16. Lesser Goldfinch 17. California Quail 18. Eurasian Collared-dove (v) 19. Canada Goose 20. European Starling 21. Golden Eagle 22. Mourning Dove (v)
Mammals
Red Squirrel (v) Mule Deer Mountain Cottontail Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also Elsewhere **Voice only Elsewhere
