Slept late. (Must’ve needed that extra hour.) When Captain Jack and I got to the trailhead, the sun had already topped the ridge, and the air was dry and warm—with a touch of haze across the basin.

And what an interesting batch of birds! Beyond the usual suspects, I encountered a dark morph Red-tailed Hawk (I’m pretty sure—not always great with raptors), first Black-throated Gray Warbler in a while, and another drive-by Red-breasted Nuthatch. Noteworthy also was the lack of any black-chinned hummers today—and only two House Finches.

But all seems so quiet and seductive at this time of year—a slight note here, a soft chip there. In fact, I heard at least two bird sounds this morning that I couldn’t identify at all.

The mystery is the thing. (Also learning through observing.)

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:52 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
2. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
3. Black-capped Chickadee*
4. Spotted Towhee
5. Red-breasted Nuthatch
6. Broad-tailed Hummingbird
7. Mourning Dove*
8. Black-throated Gray Warbler
9. Cooper’s Hawk
10. Red-tailed Hawk
11. Lazuli Bunting
12. Chipping Sparrow
13. House Finch*
14. Downy Woodpecker**

Elsewhere

15. California Quail
16. Black-billed Magpie
17. Eurasian Collared Dove (v)
18. Rock Pigeon

Mammals

Rock Squirrel

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