Pretty good variety this morning, bird-wise. About ten degrees (F) warmer than yesterday in the mountain shade—comfortable walking weather. Things started out rather quiet, but picked up soon enough.
On something of a lark, we followed a few deer trails across unfamiliar slopes, dog and I, which was interesting for both of us. Also followed a Juniper Titmouse around and, at quite a distance, spotted a Steller’s Jay in flight.
A bit warmer this morning, but a favorable northwest-ish wind, and an interesting sky full of clouds. Hardly any birds for the first five minutes, then—pow!
Cooper’s Hawk (imm.).
Most fun for me were two young species, both of which made surprise appearances near the trailhead.
First, I’d thought I heard a sparrow near the little old quarry hole but saw nothing. About a minute later, up popped a young White-crowned Sparrow. Then, soon after that, as I was angling to photograph three magpies, a new bird swept in and perched some forty feet away—a young Cooper’s Hawk.
Loved all the other birds, too, of course.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:28 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie** 2. Northern Flicker* 3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 4. Spotted Towhee 5. Dark-eyed Junco 6. House Finch** 7. American Robin 8. White-crowned Sparrow 9. Cooper’s Hawk 10. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 11. Lesser Goldfinch** (v) 12. Black-capped Chickadee 13. Pine Siskin (v) 14. Mourning Dove 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler (v)
Mammals
Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Following yesterday’s big day, this morning’s hike brought sparse bird action—without even a single Yellow-rumped Warbler. One thing it did bring, though, was flickers. Lots and lots of flickers.
Flickers plucking olives from the Russian olive tree. Flickers perched and delivering their bright, declarative call. Flickers, male and female, flapping overhead, gathering in the crowns of little scrub oaks, traveling here and there. Since they don’t properly migrate, perhaps—like the Mountain Chickadees—they simply move around where the food is, readying for certain winter.
Whatever the case, it’s pretty nice to have red-shafted Northern Flickers hanging around.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:27 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
