As forecast, today brought a little warm-up. I might’ve hoped for more in the way of arriving migrants, but the lack of such an influx didn’t dampen my morning hike with dog. At all.

It was a nice one. A little longer than usual, with a little more altitude. Plus, I spotted a first-of-year Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

And insects are out: butterflies, regular flies, silk and filaments. And flowers—heard (but did not see) what sounded like a Black-chinned Hummingbird. (Heard what sounded like a bunting, too, but could not confirm.)

More birding fun is on the near horizon.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:26 a.m. (8:26 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Spotted Towhee
2. American Robin*
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Hummingbird (sp.)
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
6. Ruby-crowned Kinglet†
7. House Finch**
8. Chipping Sparrow
9. Northern Flicker (v)
10. Song Sparrow** (v)
11. Turkey Vulture
12. California Quail*
13. Black-billed Magpie** (v)
14. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)

Elsewhere

15. House Sparrow (v)

Mammals

Mountain Cottontail
Rock Squirrel

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird