One nice thing about hiking the same patch every day is getting to know the wildlife well—the individual birds, bird families, where they hang out, their calls, their habits. As rewarding, arguably, are the surprises.
Today’s surprises were: 1) a Eurasian Collared-dove perched on a wire usually occupied by a Mouning dove; 2) a cottontail far afield from where we usually encounter them, dog and I; 3) a random tanager showing up weeks after my last sighting.
Surprises are fun. And not uncommonly experience by the daily birder. (I’m tellin’ ya, birding improves your life.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 6:36 a.m. (7:36 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lazuli Bunting 2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v) 3. Lesser Goldfinch** 4. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 5. House Finch* 6. Eurasian Collared-dove 7. Black-chinned Hummingbird 8. Hawk (sp.) 9. Mourning Dove 10. Black-headed Grosbeak 11. Rock Pigeon 12. Spotted Towhee 13. Black-billed Magpie** 14. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 15. Western Tanager 16. American Robin
Elsewhere
17. House Sparrow 18. California Quail
Mammals
Red Squirrel Rock Squirrel Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
This morning was coool. Both figuratively and literally. Temps in the upper-60s (F) for much of our hike—most all of it, in fact, until we emerged in the sun on the deer trail on our return, dog and I. Moreover, some cool wild stuff showed up.
Mountain Cottontail.
More than the usual number of birds were out enjoying the coolness as we headed up the switchback. (The usual suspects, but still.) I wondered if a cottontail might take advantage of the cool shade—and there it was, a bunny in the grass. On up the trail flitted bird families (as evidenced by the slight chips of youngsters and bright chips of their parents). Saw tracks in the dry dust of what appeared to be a quail.
Coming up lush little Coyote Canyon, I heard a singing vireo—and the sudden cry of a Cooper’s Hawk. Soon after we turned onto the deer trail, I heard it again. Then two—what sounded like a fledgling, and the other an adult. Out came the adult, calling ki-ki-ki-ki-ki! (Trying to get the fledgling to fly, was my guess). Then it posed for a photo.
If this morning’s hike were a short movie, I’d watch it again.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 6:37 a.m. (7:37 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
A good hike, even a fun hike, despite it being relatively unremarkable. Not so warm as recent mornings, half overcast. The usual suspects—but with more juvies than a week or two ago. Finches, robins, even (I think) a young Cooper’s Hawk. (Going by its call, and the parent’s speedy arrival.)
Plus, back home, merged family of California Quail: two mating pairs and six young ’uns.
I love this relatively unremarkable day.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:03 a.m. (8:03 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
