The wind was a-whippin’ when dog and I hit the trailhead this morning. Temps about 60 (F), but 20, 30, 40 mile-an-hour gusts. Although it was a favorable southerly wind, I didn’t exactly expect to see a bunch of birds—let alone any first-of-year migrants—in such extreme conditions.
In fact, I didn’t see any first-of-year birds. But I managed to see a good bunch of species.
Most notably were a couple of windblown White-crowned Sparrows. And on a utility pole just above the sparrows perched the neighborhood red-tail. Quail, vulture, gnatcatcher, kinglet—a pretty good selection for the beginnings of a turbulent weather day.
Couple of rainy, snow days coming up, looks like, but Sunday looks nice. Hitting the road on Monday.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:55 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* 2. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 3. Song Sparrow** (v) 4. Rock Pigeon* 5. Spotted Towhee 6. Eurasian Collared-dove* 7. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 9. House Finch* 10. California Quail** (v) 11. White-crowned Sparrow 12. Red-tailed Hawk 13. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (v) 14. Cooper’s Hawk (v) 15. Turkey Vulture 16. Pine Siskin (v)
Elsewhere
17. House Sparrow (v) 18. Lesser Goldfinch `19. European Starling 20. American Crow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
For the fourth straight day, I saw a first-of-year bird on my morning hike with dog. Today’s bird—whose chip note I mistook for a yellow-rump’s at first—was a Black-throated Gray Warbler. Also spied the gnatcatcher again (which I assume is the same bird, since it’s unusually early for the species.
Otherwise, two hawks (Cooper’s and a redtail), were noteworthy, as well as a little herd of deer apparently spooked up the trail by a hiker.
Four days before we take off for Maine, Captain Jack and me. A lot to do yet, but we’ll manage somehow—along with our daily hike).
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:46 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2. American Robin* 3. Song Sparrow** 4. Spotted Towhee 5. Pine Siskin** 6. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 7. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8. House Finch* 9. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 10. Rock Pigeon* 11. California Quail* (v) 12. Cooper’s Hawk 13. Black-throated Gray Warbler 14. Red-tailed Hawk
Elsewhere
15. Eurasian Collared-dove 16. House Sparrow 17. Lesser Goldfinch `18. European Starling 19. American Kestrel
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
A bright morning, temps about 45 (F) or so. Slight breeze. Looked like the overnight wind directly was more or less southerly, so I thought it possible a new migrant or two might pop up somewhere.
Welp, two did.
The first was a Chipping Sparrow that popped up in a juniper along the deer trail as I was looking to spot a junco. Was a lovely surprise.
The second was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that popped up on our return hike (by which time the temperature was much warmer). Actually heard the bird first, then spied it—also in a juniper.
I’d forgotten how much joy first-of year spring migrants bring.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:58 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
