A cool morning after some overnight sprinkles, and a good hike with dog. The usually suspects were about—plus one of the neighborhood red-tails in the neighborhood below the bluff. Challenging still to photograph, what with all the immature birds yet demanding parental attention.

Bunches of juvies, in fact. Plenty of buntings, unseen towhees, a juvie hawk near the nest still, young ’uns among a small batch goldfinches—and about half a flock of robins were speckled kiddos.

Back home, the three teensy quail are still racing around with their parents. Spied a good dozen or so magpies perched on a utility line overlooking the basin, practicing social distancing.

And then we had a nice thunderstorm. Lots of wind and water. Hail. It was wild and luscious—and I’m still hearing some thunder out there tonight.

I will welcome fresh mud in the morning.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:04 a.m. (8:04 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. House Finch**
2. Lazuli Bunting
3. Black-chinned Hummingbird
4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** (v)
5. Black-billed Magpie* (v)
6. Cooper’s Hawk
7. American Robin
8. Red-tailed Hawk
9. Mourning Dove
10. Spotted Towhee (v)
11. Lesser Goldfinch* (v)
12. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
13. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
14. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (v)

Elsewhere

15. California Quail
16. Eurasian Collared-dove
17. Rock Pigeon

Mammals

Rock Squirrel
Red Squirrel

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere