Not as warm as yesterday, nor as crystal clear. Fact is, density of particulates in the air has risen lately on account of the crazy number of California wildfires.
But still, birds abounding. Most interesting to me lately have been the interactions of various hummingbird species. The Black-chinned variety tend to be rather peaceful and easy to get along with—at least compared to the feisty broadtails are notoriously territorial.
But not as territorial (in my limited experience) as Rufous Hummingbirds—a few immature individuals of which I’ve seen lately—although you’d never know it by the single young male I spotted today, who sat calmly on a perch ,as a female black-chinned perched nervously above.
Yes, I’ve been on kind of a hummingbird kick these days. Have loved watching their complex behavior—including their occasional hovering a few feet from my face, apparently curious about little ol’ human me.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:01 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Lovely cool hike this morning. Managed to tally eighteen species—including a juvie Red-tailed Hawk being mobbed by robins, finches, and at least one oriole.
Then, this afternoon, dog and I had a meet-up with visiting friends at Sugar House Park, a nice green area in town with a creek and pond. Fun conversation amid a whole bunch of wild birds: geese, ducks, hummingbirds—and a plethora of Barn Swallows tending nests in the corners of the pavilion roof.
Could hardly get enough of the swallows.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:30 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
This morning brought cloudiness and a little light rain. Didn’t stop dog and me from making our usual rounds.
Spied a Mountain Cottontail. Amassed a list of a dozen bird species on the mountainside. Then, back home, a big flock of waxwings descended on the flowering trees in the yard.
Feels more like spring every day.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:30 a.m., I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Northern Flicker 2. Song Sparrow* (v) 3. Eastern Towhee 4. Pine Siskin 5. Black-billed Magpie* 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay* 7. Black-capped Chickadee* 8. American Robin* 9. House Finch* (v) 10. Dark-eyed Junco 11. Canada Goose 12. Red-tailed Hawk
Elsewhere
13. Eurasian Collared Dove 14. Downy Woodpecker (v) 15. Lesser Goldfinch (v) 16. European Starling 17. Cedar Waxwing
Mammals
Mountain Cottontail Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
