Dog and I started early, what with a hot day forecast. Sure enough it was cloudless, but here on the east side of the basin, we’ve got the mountain shade early—and a little bit of a breeze kept things about room temperature on our way up to the ridge, where I decided we could climb for a change.
And climb we did. Had plenty of water for Jack, and most of the hike was in shadow. (The sunny spots were a little toasty.) Quite a few birds out early—I figure they didn’t want to have to brave the afternoon heat. Which, by the way, reached 100° (F). (Tomorrow’s supposed to get to 101°, and the day after 102°.)
It’ll be a drought-ravaged year here in the west, but still we’ll go out hiking. (Early.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:03 a.m. (8:03 MDT), I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
Pretty quiet this calm, lovely morning up along the deer trails. Coolish still, and dry. I wonder each morning why it’s different from the morning before—and the morning before that. They’re all different, sometimes subtly so, and sometimes vastly.
Not nearly as many species today as in recent days. I imagine migration is diminishing apace. (Did hear one bird I couldn’t identify—and couldn’t track down.) Nests are active. Not nearly as much singing going on.
Each day is different, year round. Just as every season is different from the previous year’s. Makes me wonder. And any hike that makes me wonder is a good walk. (Not sure I’ve ever had a bad one.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:28 a.m. (8:28 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
What a lovely, summery morning—considering we’ve still got a month left of spring. Birds about, although no new firsts-of-year. A sneaky Cooper’s Hawk overlooking the Monarch Quarry (ignoring the tiny gnatcatchers attempting to mob him), buntings and grosbeaks and Warbling Vireos vying for their preferred high desert territories, four Turkey Vultures.
It was a warm one, and—other, perhaps, than a pair of Chukars we flushed coming along the deer trail—nothing particularly outstanding about this morning. Just a generally outstanding hike with dog.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:31 a.m. (8:31 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-headed Grosbeak 2. Song Sparrow* (v) 3. Lazuli Bunting 4. American Robin* 5. Black-chinned Hummingbird 6. Spotted Towhee 7. Black-capped Chickadee 8. Rock Pigeon* 9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 10. Mourning Dove 11. Cooper’s Hawk 12. Pine Siskin 13. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v) 14. House Finch** 15. Chipping Sparrow 16. Warbling Vireo (v) 17. Turkey Vulture 18. Chukar
Elsewhere
19. California Quail 20. Black-billed Magpie 21. European Starling
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere