Slept late this morning. We didn’t make it to the trailhead until the sun had long cleared the ridge. Warm, not too breezy. Didn’t know what to expect.
Not many birds on my list, but what showed up were vocal. The usual buntings and towhees and grosbeaks, along with chippies, finches, gnatcatchers. No magpies, which was odd. And the cherry on top was a cooperative Black-throated Gray Warbler (singing an interesting alternate song that—astonishingly—didn’t fool me).
After two long hikes, today’s was a quick one. Rain forecast for the weekend. Wind and rain. Scattered thunderstorms. Should be interesting. Looking forward to it.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 9 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
I’d never seen a Black-headed Grosbeak until I’d moved to Utah. Saw a single quiet grosbeak in the shady switchback late last summer or in early fall, just for a moment. Impressive-looking bird that I knew nothing about.
Now, in deep spring, I feel like I know them fairly intimately. Not least because of the grosbeak nest I spotted about fifty paces from the trailhead where dog and I begin our daily hikes. From my observations, I’ve learned that both males and females will occupy the nest—and that this particular male often sings while sitting there in the leafy shade.
I’ve learned also that grosbeaks sing a lot—both sexes. (However, I haven’t yet seen any territorial skirmishes of the sort I’ve read about.) I know their song, of course—and their loud, staccato chip-note, which is similar to a Rose-breasted Grosbeak’s, but less squeaky.
Knowledge through observation: the most satisfying part of being a birder.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
A lovely hike this morning. Dog and I did what I call the Millcreek Ridge Circuit—up the switchback to the Pipeline Trail lookout, then climb the ridge west a while, then take the shady valley back down to the lower trail.
New (to me) flowers blooming every day, it seems (some with lovely fresh smells I’ve never smelled). First time I’ve seen all the shades of spring green—plus, of course, the bright June colors of western birds.
(Note: I believe the gnatcatchers have fledged.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie* 2. Black-headed Grosbeak 3. Black-chinned Hummingbird 4. Lazuli Bunting 5. House Finch* 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 7. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8. Spotted Towhee 9. Rock Pigeon 10. American Robin* 11. Song Sparrow** (v) 12. Pine Siskin (v) 13. Chipping Sparrow (v) 14. Warbling Vireo (v) 15. Chukar 16. Orange-crowned Warbler (v) 17. Western Tanager (v) 18. California Quail*
Elsewhere
19. House Sparrow (v) 20. European Starling 21. Mourning Dove 22. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Mammals
None
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
