Good news and not so bad news this morning: Jack seems fine and was eager to hike this morning; not nearly the excitement of yesterday, bird-wise, but still an enjoyable excursion.
Cooler, breezier, mostly clear. The Rock Wrens are still in the little old quarry, so maybe they’ll nest there this year. Gnatcatchers all over the place, with those antic, highly entertaining songs and calls of theirs. The usual spring warblers, Warbling Vireos, chippies, a Cooper’s Hawk.
Dog really dug our hike, and so did I.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:05 a.m. (8:05 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
During this morning’s bright, breezy hike with dog, I encountered more wild birds than I have since at least last fall. Quite a few species, too—but I’ve had more species on my list this year. Just not as many individual birds.*
The youngsters have been sprung free.
Many young finches, many young robins, random other juvie birds—along with the usual high number of buntings and towhees. By my count, 107 individuals—among them (today’s highlight) a curious Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Can hardly wait to see what tomorrow will bring.
*Not counting large flocks of Rock Pigeons.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:45 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
On our hike this lovely morning, dog and I encountered fewer bird species—but the air held plenty of birdsong. All because of a feeding frenzy.
We got scolded by buntings and gnatcatchers and Warbling Vireos. Only got a glimpse or two of the vireos—but the faint, high-pitched voices of their new fledglings were an apparent reason for that.
No magpies and just one scrub-jay (voice only)—meaning they and their offspring have long abandoned the nest.
Meanwhile, a Chipping Sparrow sat silently on a juniper stem, waiting for dog and human to pass so he could bring breakfast to the young ’uns.
It’s a seasonal imperative.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:30 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
