Another cool morning, but brighter than last. Another nice supply of migrants. Another glimpse of a Steller’s Jay. Not the photo ops of yesterday’s magnificent hike—but dog and I enjoyed it just fine.
In fact, in chasing the jay, we veered off our usual course for quite a distance (and increase in altitude). It was a shy yet vocal bird, and it mimicked the voice of a Red-tailed Hawk perfectly.
Already looking forward to what tomorrow might bring.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:56 a.m. (8:56 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
First truly damp, nippy morning of the season—complete with a dusting of snow atop the mountains. A combination of mysterious factors brought a little wave of migrants.
Right away, in the scrub along the switchback, came a small flock of juncos, along with Townsend’s Warbler. Then came a small contingent of yellow-rumps and an overflight of eighteen robins. Then the junco and yellow-rump numbers began to rise—and on our return, dog and I encountered a big gang of ’rumps, accompanied by a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
I do love a little migration wave.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:34 a.m. (8:34 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie (v) 2. House Finch** (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 4. Northern Flicker (v) 5. Rock Pigeon* 6. Dark-eyed Junco 7. Townsend’s Warbler 7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 9. Spotted Towhee 10. Yellow-rumped Warbler 11. American Robin 12. Pine Siskin 13. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Elsewhere
14. Song Sparrow (v) 15. House Sparrow (v) 16. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 17. Accipiter (sp)
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Trouble operating my GoPro for the second straight day—this time, I managed to set it for “night lapse.” Sheesh. (Tomorrow I’ll do a careful equipment check.) Compared to yesterday, at least, it was a quiet morning, with not a lot of excitement, nor many photo opportunities.
Except toward the end, when I happened to spot a bird perched on some bare scrub-oak twigs. And for the second straight August day, I had a first-of-year species.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:05 a.m. (8:05 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. House Finch** 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. Black-chinned Hummingbird 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 5. Rock Pigeon* 6. Lazuli Bunting 7. Eurasian Collared-dove 8. Spotted Towhee (v) 9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 10. Western Tanager 11. Warbling Vireo (v) 12. Accipiter (sp) 13. Broad-tailed Hummingbird 14. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 15. American Goldfinch 16. Pine Siskin (v) 17. American Robin (v) 18. Sage Thrasher†
Elsewhere
19. Black-billed Magpie 20. European Starling 21. American Crow 22. California Quail
Mammals
Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year bird
