A somewhat earlier hike this morning for dog and me, meaning most of it occurred in the mountain shade. No problem, though, since migration continues, and the migrants don’t seem to mind a little shade. Robins and yellow-rumps—even a gnatcatcher.

The air contained nippiness and a sense of urgency. Flickers cried, ’rumps chipped, chickadees chattered. A particularly genial chickadee, in fact, presented me with by far the best photo of the day, on our return.

It posed in a Russian Olive tree, in the warmth of the morning sun.

Grandeur Peak Area List
At 7:11 a.m. (8:11 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Black-billed Magpie**
2. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
3. House Finch**
4. Song Sparrow* (v)
5. Spotted Towhee (v)
6. Yellow-rumped Warbler
7. Rock Pigeon*
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (v)
10. Pine Siskin (v)
11. Northern Flicker**
12. Lesser Goldfinch
13. American Robin
14. Mourning Dove
15. California Quail* (v)

Mammals

Red Squirrel

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