Warbler sightings—so common back in Maine—are worthy of celebration here in the high desert. Today I spied a rather common one that nonetheless kind of made my day.
As has often happened lately, I’d stumbled on a very active patch of greenery—many gnatcatchers, a couple of grosbeaks, curious buntings, at least one hummingbird. Although we were in the shade of the mountain, dog and I, the flash of color caught my eye: a Yellow Warbler.
It was the first Yellow Warbler I’d seen since last year sometime (and only the third or fourth I’ve seen in Utah). Posed for a photo, too.
Yesterday it was a Virginia’s Warbler. A couple days before that, a quiet black-throated gray. Fact is, I see more Lazuli Buntings on any given hike than warbler species—by far.
(Fact is, that rarity enhances the thrill.)
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. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
4. Mourning Dove*
5. Lazuli Bunting
6. Spotted Towhee
7. House Finch**
8. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
9. Black-headed Grosbeak
10. Yellow Warbler
11. Black-capped Chickadee
12. American Robin*
13. Pine Siskin (v)
14. Warbling Vireo
15. Chipping Sparrow
16. Northern Flicker* (v)
Elsewhere
17. Black-billed Magpie
18. California Quail
19. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Rock Squirrel (v)
American Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
