My full summer in Utah has taught me a few things—like when different bird species fledge, when they begin to sing less, and how different species behave in different weather and at different times of day.

I’ve also learned that, while most birds seem to hang around their nesting patches, a few leave for lower elevations (where presumably the pickings are more favorable). That’s what the local corvids do. For instance, I’ve seen a lot fewer scrub-jays lately—and once-common magpies have been relatively rare the past few weeks. I suspect they find ample helpings of peanuts down in the neighborhood.

Dog and I encountered exactly one magpie along the trails this morning (and not a single scrub-jay). We also saw one very cute young Mountain Cottontail.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Rock Pigeon*
2. Black-chinned Hummingbird
3. Mourning Dove*
4. House Finch**
5. Pine Siskin
6. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
7. American Kestrel
8. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
9. Lazuli Bunting
10. Spotted Towhee
11. Lesser Goldfinch
12. Broad-tailed Hummingbird*
13. Cooper’s Hawk
14. Warbling Vireo
15. Western Tanager
16. Black-headed Grosbeak
17. Chipping Sparrow
18. Virginia’s Warbler
19. Black-billed Magpie
20. Red-tailed Hawk (v)

Elsewhere

21. American Robin
22. California Quail
23. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
24. Barn Swallow

Mammals

Mountain Cottontail

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