Warbler sightings—so common back in Maine—are worthy of celebration here in the high desert. Today I spied a rather common one that nonetheless kind of made my day.
Lazuli Bunting (male).
As has often happened lately, I’d stumbled on a very active patch of greenery—many gnatcatchers, a couple of grosbeaks, curious buntings, at least one hummingbird. Although we were in the shade of the mountain, dog and I, the flash of color caught my eye: a Yellow Warbler.
It was the first Yellow Warbler I’d seen since last year sometime (and only the third or fourth I’ve seen in Utah). Posed for a photo, too.
Yesterday it was a Virginia’s Warbler. A couple days before that, a quiet black-throated gray. Fact is, I see more Lazuli Buntings on any given hike than warbler species—by far.
(Fact is, that rarity enhances the thrill.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Ah, an overcast day for a change. Our morning hike was far more humid than usual, but there was no warming sun beating down on Jack’s heavy coat, and his panting eased up a bit. (Still drank all his water.)
The birds on the trails were furtive and not very vocal, but it wasn’t hard to spot usual suspects. On the other hand, a few species made themselves apparent very subtly: a voice here or there, a flit within a juniper. At one point, when a female bunting posed for photos, I stopped to oblige—and saw a second little bird perched there. A warbler, looked like.
Later, when I looked at the photos, it was easy to ID a Virginia’s Warbler. A female I believe. Never made a peep. Had I decided not to snap that pic, I would’ve missed it altogether.
Sometimes it’s the little things.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:30 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
On this morning’s short, sweet hike up the mountain with Captain Jack, I encountered four Northern Flickers. Still appreciating the red-shafted western race we have out here (though I do kind of miss the yellow-shafted birds I got so familiar with back East). they always grab my attention.
The first three—just below the bluff overlooking the neighborhoo—were, I’m pretty sure, related: first a female popped up, then what looked like a young bird, then a male. All three posed for photos. I heard the fourth bird before I saw it—another female, calling from the top of a scrub oak near the burnt patch from the recent fire.
Encountered a bunch of other nice species—buntings, of course, and towhees. Vireos, finches, gnatcatchers, and a lovely Mourning Dove. But of them all, when our hike was done, the flickers stood out most to me.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:15 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
