We stepped out early to avoid the Sunday crowds. A bit chillier than yesterday, parts of it overcast and parts of it sunny. Fewer birds than yesterday to start—but up little Coyote Canyon came some strange voices. Not unfamiliar, just unheard for a while.
One trill, in fact, I could not ID. (Some kind of warbler, I believe.) And another—a note—I did not recognize. Saw neither bird. Nor did I see the first-of-year Black-throated Gray warbler that kept singing from the junipers. I might’ve spied it, but we met a friendly, talkative couple coming the other way along the deer trail. At least I pointed out the song to them and told them the name of the little bird.
Mostly sunny later. Still waiting for that bodacious spring migration day.d
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7 a.m. (8 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
A nearly cloudless, chilly morn—but not as chilly as yesterday. Soon enough, in fact, the rising sun warmed us up considerably, dog and me. And there were birds.
Heard, then saw, a male American Goldfinch. Not a migrant necessarily, but my first since last year. Two vultures moving through. A calling Red-breasted Nuthatch. A calling quail. Two scrub-jays “kissing.” A couple vultures circling, A solitary solitaire.
On our return, not far above the trailhead, I heard the sudden, loud song of a warbler in a leafing-out maple nearby. I left the trail and slid down the slope a bit and finally got a glimpse of it: a first-of-year Orange-crowned Warbler. (I’m determined now to become wholly familiar with their song.)
Tomorrow it’s supposed to get to 80° (F). I expect more new birds moving through.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:12 a.m. (8:12 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Song Sparrow** (v) 2. American Robin* 3. Spotted Towhee 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 5. American Goldfinch 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Red-breasted Nuthatch 8. Townsend’s Solitaire 9. Northern Flicker** (v) 10. California Quail 11. Lesser Goldfinch* (v) 12. House Finch** 13. Cooper’s Hawk 14. Turkey Vulture 15. Dark-eyed Junco 16. Orange-crowned Warbler†
Elsewhere
17. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
Rock Squirrel Mule Deer Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year bird
Another overcast but fairly mild morning. Slight breeze, temps in the comfortable 50s (F). Quite a few of the resident bird species, but also a newly arriving Turkey Vulture and some Chipping Sparrows vying for territory up in the junipers.
And mammals. More than one Mountain Cottontail, the usual little family of Mule Deer down in the scrub oak thicket. Dog and I got pretty close to three of them—pretty sure they know us by now—and one elder doe posed for a photo. I’ve come to like knowing I’m regularly in the company of deer.
Rain tomorrow, then clearing and warming. Soon butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, more birds.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:22 a.m. (8:22 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* 2. House Finch** 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. Spotted Towhee 5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay** 6. Rock Pigeon* 7. Black-billed Magpie 8. Song Sparrow** (v) 9. Broad-tailed Hummingbird (wing-trill) 10. Chipping Sparrow 11. Turkey Vulture 12. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
Elsewhere
13. California Quail 14. European Starling 15. Mallard
Mammals
Red Squirrel Mountain Cottontail Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
