A nice cool breezy shady early morning hike with dog. So cool and breezy and shady that, on something of a lark, I took a turn up the gully trail, and we continued right straight up the the ridge overlooking Millcreek Canyon.

Few clouds to start. Few birds, too. Still a bunch of hummingbirds, although it was hard to get a good look in the early shade.) But I did get a rare look at a kestrel on a rock and a raven, and heard the voices of a couple of hawks. Plus, we had some lovely views from a height.

A surprise rain shower got us a little wet on the way down—but that was nothing compared a big ol’ thunderstorm that blew through tonight.

Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:27 a.m. (8:27 MDT), I hiked 1,200-plus feet up a mountain.

1. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
2. Mourning Dove
3. Black-chinned Hummingbird
4. Lazuli Bunting
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
6. Downy Woodpecker (v)
7. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
6. Spotted Towhee
5. House Finch** (v)
10. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
11. American Kestrel
12. Common Raven
13. Cooper’s Hawk (v)
14. Pine Siskin (v)
15. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)

Elsewhere

16. Black-billed Magpie

Mammals

Rock Squirrel

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere