I had no expectations when dog and I headed up the switchback this morning. After yesterday’s mostly silent stroll, I’d begun to think fall migration would be something of a dud this year.

My suspicions were unfounded, perhaps not least because of the weather. Which I hadn’t checked. There was a little (very little) rain.

And we encountered many bids—among them two dozen yellow-rumps, a gnatcatcher, and a posing sparrow.

Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:19 a.m. (8:19 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Song Sparrow** (v)
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay**
3. Rock Pigeon*
4. Yellow-rumped Warbler
5. Northern Flicker
6. Black-billed Magpie
7. California Quail** (v)
8. White-crowned Sparrow
9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (v)
10. Spotted Towhee (v)
11. House Finch*
12. Black-capped Chickadee
13. Chipping Sparrow
14. Lesser Goldfinch (v)

Elsewhere

15. European Starling
16. Mourning Dove
17. House Sparrow (v)

Mammals

Red Squirrel
Rock Squirrel

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