A bright morning, temps about 45 (F) or so. Slight breeze. Looked like the overnight wind directly was more or less southerly, so I thought it possible a new migrant or two might pop up somewhere.
Welp, two did.
The first was a Chipping Sparrow that popped up in a juniper along the deer trail as I was looking to spot a junco. Was a lovely surprise.
The second was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that popped up on our return hike (by which time the temperature was much warmer). Actually heard the bird first, then spied it—also in a juniper.
I’d forgotten how much joy first-of year spring migrants bring.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:58 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
One nice thing about hiking the same patch every day is getting to know the wildlife well—the individual birds, bird families, where they hang out, their calls, their habits. As rewarding, arguably, are the surprises.
Today’s surprises were: 1) a Eurasian Collared-dove perched on a wire usually occupied by a Mouning dove; 2) a cottontail far afield from where we usually encounter them, dog and I; 3) a random tanager showing up weeks after my last sighting.
Surprises are fun. And not uncommonly experience by the daily birder. (I’m tellin’ ya, birding improves your life.)
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 6:36 a.m. (7:36 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lazuli Bunting 2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v) 3. Lesser Goldfinch** 4. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 5. House Finch* 6. Eurasian Collared-dove 7. Black-chinned Hummingbird 8. Hawk (sp.) 9. Mourning Dove 10. Black-headed Grosbeak 11. Rock Pigeon 12. Spotted Towhee 13. Black-billed Magpie** 14. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 15. Western Tanager 16. American Robin
Elsewhere
17. House Sparrow 18. California Quail
Mammals
Red Squirrel Rock Squirrel Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
My hike with dog began as usual (albeit a bit early, to avoid the housebound “throngs”). Jack and I climbed the switchback, squinted into the sun, listened to singing Spotted Towhees. Then I heard Chukars and decided we might as well head up a deer trail to investigate.
As usual, we didn’t get anywhere near the Chukars—but we scouted new, interesting trails, passed the ribcage of a long-dead deer, enjoyed the high views. Then, on descending back to the familiar trail, I heard it, and it brought me to a stop: the song of a Canyon Wren.
I’d been waiting for it for a while but didn’t expect to hear it so soon. It came from way up the hillside we’d just descended—likely from the rocky summit ridge. Once. Twice. Three times. That was all. That was enough.
Looking forward to my second listen to that lovely song.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 9:15 a.m., I hiked a couple hundred feet up the mountain.
1. American Robin** 2. Black-billed Magpie* 3. House Finch* (v) 4. Black-capped Chickadee** 5. Northern Flicker (v) 6. Rock Pigeon 7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 8. Spotted Towhee 9. Pine Siskin (v) 10. Chukar (v) 11. Canyon Wren (v) 12. California Quail (v)
Elsewhere
13. Song Sparrow 14. Eurasian Collared Dove
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
