What an unexpectedly action-packed hike this morning—bird action, that is. All started quietly (breezy, cool, mountain-shady), but as soon as we topped the switchback, dog and I, we found ourselves surrounded. By birds, that is.
A flock of a dozen towhees. Finches and robins and juncos and a flicker and a singing White-crowned Sparrow (immature), all within view at once. A Red-tailed Hawk on the utility pole I check every morning in case there’s a red-tail perching there. (Been at least a couple months.) Another Steller’s Jay up in the junipers.
Speaking of junipers, though, the little bird that stands out most is the chattery, nondescript Juniper Titmouse we happened upon. It’s only been a couple weeks or so since I saw my first of this species, but after a sighting or two nearly every day since, I now know what to look and listen for.
And today, one flitted up right in front of me and posed.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:34 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Yet another quiet morning—though not quite as quiet as yesterday. Had three young White-crowned Sparrows appear, and a few juncos and a bunch of towhees, a couple yellow-rumps—and a soaring red-tail at the end.
Frankly, I could dig it if all my quiet hikes were this fruitful.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:32 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Got a whiff of smoke this morning on my hike with dog. A haze hovered over the basin. The fires in California are alarming, to say the least—as is the local drought. Thought we’d be getting some rain tomorrow, but apparently not. Going on two months without significant rain.
Perhaps that’s why things continue to be quiet up the foothills trails. Mostly the usual suspects this morning, bu also a couple of birds whose calls I didn’t recognize. One in particular—with a semi-harsh, semi-musical chip-note—flitted out of a juniper and showed itself to be warbler-sized with flashes of yellow. Tried to track it down but didn’t see it again. Another little chattery bird, too, I couldn’t sneak up on.
“Dips” in birding lingo usually mean you’ve heard of a rare or interesting sighting and go looking for it but fail to find it—i.e., you “dipped” on the bird. In my mind the same applies in the shorter term: you see or hear something curious but don’t end up getting a good look. Happens a lot.
But also, on occasion, you stumble onto a pretty great sighting without even trying. It all works out in the end, I suppose.
No smoky smell later in the day. I hope at least the West Coast gets a little rain.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 8:13 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
