Up the trail with dog as usual, and as lately in the cool, cool shade. Many birds at first—and all told the most species in a while—plus just a little visual magic today for whatever random reason.
For instance: Rock Squirrels perched high on a rock on a ridge, one high, one low; a hummingbird teed up on a twig, the waning gibbous moon behind it; and in late afternoon, a red-tail perched on a utility pole, as an incoming jetliner passes in the sky behind it. (Saw what I assume was the same hawk, on the same pole, this early morning.)
A little magic is a good thing.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:11 a.m. (8:11 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lazuli Bunting 2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 3. House Finch** 4. Mourning Dove 5. Black-chinned Hummingbird 6. Spotted Towhee 7. Rock Pigeon* 8. Black-billed Magpie** 12. Black-headed Grosbeak (v) 10. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 11. Common Raven 12. American Robin* (v) 13. Sharp-Shinned Hawk 13. Warbling Vireo 9. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 11. Pine Siskin (v) 17. Song Sparrow* (v) 18. Lesser Goldfinch**
Elsewhere
19. California Quail 20. House Sparrow 21. Eurasian Collared-dove 22. Red-tailed Hawk
Mammals
Red Squirrel Rock Squirrel Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Another coolish morning (60s (F) when we hit the trailhead, dog and I) under a partial overcast that would eventually lead to a mostly sunny day. Mostly the usual suspects, bird-wise—excepting the third bird on my list, a young Sharp-shinned Hawk, and the second-to-last, a Brewer’s Sparrow.
The Brewer’s was a highlight. When I heard its song coming from the scrub habitat above us, I first assumed it was a chippie—until I realized its typical trill had begun with a shorter trill at a higher pitch. Stopped me in my tracks. Scanned the scrub and (by some stroke of luck) managed to spy the little sparrow perched in on a twig maybe 75 yards away. Thanks to my trusty superzoom, I managed to confirm my suspicion after downloading the photos.
And this hot dry summer’s just begun.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:14 a.m. (8:14 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
The forecast called for a chance of thundershowers this morning, but no such luck. Instead, dog and I had a lucky overcast and cool, room temperatures. And a good hike. Along with a nice assortment of bird species.
Most unusual was a random Warbling Vireo moving through the trees just above the neighborhood. Most thrilling was a raven lying low over the bench. (Hadn’t seen a raven in quite a while.) And most photogenic was a grosbeak singing in a treetop near the old Monarch Quarry.
We’re supposed to get a rather mild weekend, too—before summertime returns with a vengeance next week.
No matter, we shall hike regardless, Jack and I.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:05 a.m. (8:05 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
