Enjoyed yet another hike with dog this morning—albeit the most muggy one I can recall. Last evening’s rain had soaked in and/or dried up overnight, but the atmosphere held traces of the rare, welcome wetness. Didn’t at all mind the sweat it drew from my pores.
Not a lot of bird action—mostly because fewer birds are vocalizing. Yep, it’s that time of year: having left the nest, youngsters must be fed and kept track of; hawks (and dogs and humans) are about; the territorial imperative is less important than simply finding food and surviving. No need to make a lot of noise.
I heard only three singing towhees, and maybe four singing buntings. (Compare that to spring!) Counted only six of each species. Before long, both will have abandoned their songs entirely, resorting only to subtle chips and chatters.
Still, the singers will be back next April and May.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 6:55 a.m. (7:55 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
Ever day while out hiking, we encounter at least a few surprises, dog and I. This morning—in a warm, dry (mostly) overcast—we encountered several:
• a random Red-tailed Hawk soaring over the elementary school below us; • a random grosbeak flitting up to an exposes perch between us and the hawk; • several sildent buntings popping up, males and females and juvies; • three towhees only, and identified only by their voices; • a surprise tanager (young male) appearing in a tree in front of us; • the surprising discovery, when he turned his head, that the tanager had only one eye; • the surprise appearance of a motionless gopher snake stretched out right next to the trail on our return.
I’m sure there were more, but those are the ones that stand out as I write on the evening of this day—after a surprise late-afternoon thundershower showed up and soaked our thirsty landscape.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 6:42 a.m. (7:42 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* 2. Rock Pigeon* 3. Mourning Dove 4. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. Lazuli Bunting 7. Black-chinned Hummingbird* 8. Black-billed Magpie* 9. Black-headed Grosbeak 10. House Finch** 11. Red-tailed Hawk 12. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 13. Spotted Towhee 14. Lesser Goldfinch** 15. Western Tanager
When Jack and I hit the trail this morning, I saw faint curtains streaming from the clouds in the sky and thought, rain. And maybe a little rain did fall out there in the basin under those faint curtains, but none fell on me and my dog.
We had a good hike, though—17 species, most in a while. Got a glimpse of a tanager and three Black-throated Gray Warblers and another coop. Back home in hot, sunny afternoon, a monarch in the garden.
My first rainless experience. Kinda makes you think and wish and hope.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 6:55 a.m. (7:55 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
