Lazuli Bunting (female), collecting dog hairs at the Pipeline Overlook.
Lazuli Buntings are small, vocal, attractive, birds—and the most common species in my patch. You’d think I’d begin to take them for granted. But no.
Lazuli Bunting (male).
During this morning’s long, high hike with Captain Jack, we encountered a bunch of lazulis. Singing males (as usual), and furtive females. Upon topping the switchback that leads to the terminus of the Pipeline Trail we accidentally snuck up on a pair at the overlook. The female was hopping about in the rocks, plucking up dog hairs—lots and lots of dogs accompany their humans up there—shooing away the randy male who flitted nearby.
I counted twenty-three buntings on today’s two-and-a-half hour, three-and-a-third mile excursion. I’m sure I missed a few.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
Birding is a little slower now than it was a couple weeks ago. Oh, there’re plenty of wild birds about—singing, calling, flitting around—but they’re less obvious, more secretive. They’ve got other thoughts on their mind.
In fact, I’m guessing that most of the resident species either have eggs to incubate, nestings to feed, or fledglings to bring to adulthood. But this morning I happened upon at least one couple of buntings with a nest in need of eggs—right in broad daylight.
Meanwhile, the grosbeak parents are still jamming regurgitated food rather roughly down the throats of their tiny new-hatched nestlings. (Guessing their wide beaks make it something of a challenge.) Gnatcatchers, scrub-jays, and magpies (at least) have fledglings to raise.
Busy times for all.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:45 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
A lovely hike this morning. Dog and I did what I call the Millcreek Ridge Circuit—up the switchback to the Pipeline Trail lookout, then climb the ridge west a while, then take the shady valley back down to the lower trail.
New (to me) flowers blooming every day, it seems (some with lovely fresh smells I’ve never smelled). First time I’ve seen all the shades of spring green—plus, of course, the bright June colors of western birds.
(Note: I believe the gnatcatchers have fledged.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie* 2. Black-headed Grosbeak 3. Black-chinned Hummingbird 4. Lazuli Bunting 5. House Finch* 6. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 7. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8. Spotted Towhee 9. Rock Pigeon 10. American Robin* 11. Song Sparrow** (v) 12. Pine Siskin (v) 13. Chipping Sparrow (v) 14. Warbling Vireo (v) 15. Chukar 16. Orange-crowned Warbler (v) 17. Western Tanager (v) 18. California Quail*
Elsewhere
19. House Sparrow (v) 20. European Starling 21. Mourning Dove 22. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Mammals
None
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
