Headed to the trailhead a bit earlier this morning, considering the temp was eventually supposed to reach 90° (F) today. Cool in the shade, warm in the sun. (No clouds that I could see.) Despite this dry, dry landscape, there are birds to be seen.

E.g., a female Black-headed Grosbeak. A hard-to-spy Virginia Warbler. A few gnatcatchers and Mourning Doves. Also saw a snake of some kind (garter snake? racer?), an Eight-spotted Skimmer, and a Rock Squirrel.

Tomorrow’s high is supposed to be about 95°.

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. Black-headed Grosbeak
3. Black-chinned Hummingbird
4. Spotted Towhee
5. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
6. House Finch**
7. Warbling Vireo (v)
8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
9. Pine Siskin (v)
10. Black-billed Magpie
11. Virginia’s Warbler (v)
12. Black-capped Chickadee
13. Chipping Sparrow (v)
14. Cooper’s Hawk (v)
15. Mourning Dove
16. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v)
17. Song Sparrow* (v)

Elsewhere

18. European Starling
19. American Robin
20. Eurasian Collared-dove
21. California Quail
22. Rock Pigeon
23. Barn Swallow

Mammals

Rock Squirrel

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