This morning’s hike was kind of amazing. Not because of new species or rare sightings or any kind of wacky behavioral discovery—just for the sounds of things.

As I’ve surely mentioned here before, I’m primarily an ear-first birder. Started out that way 40 years ago, and still am (thanks to lucky genetics that’ve so far preserved my hearing). On my hike with dog today nearly all the birds on my list got there first because of my ears.

Finch, jay, gnatcatcher, magpie, towhee, hummingbird, chickadee, goldfinch, nuthatch, chippie, tanager, woodpecker—all but Mourning Dove, in fact, I heard before I saw (if in fact I saw them at all).

I also heard a few alternate vocalizations that I’ve learned to attribute to certain species—and two or three bird sounds that I didn’t recognize at all.

Perhaps a bit ironically, for the only time I can remember my camera card download failed. Lost all photos from my hike with dog. (Not that any were particularly frame-worthy.) At least I managed to grab a couple at home—including a photo of a young robin (another bird I heard before I saw).

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:59 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Mourning Dove*
2. House Finch**
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay*
4. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
5. Black-billed Magpie (v)
6. Broad-tailed Hummingbird*
7. Spotted Towhee
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Lesser Goldfinch*
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
11. Chipping Sparrow (v)
12. Western Tanager (v)
13. Downy Woodpecker (v)

Elsewhere

14. Eurasian Collared Dove
15. Rock Pigeon
16. American Robin
17. California Quail

Mammals

Rock Squirrel

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