A good hike, even a fun hike, despite it being relatively unremarkable. Not so warm as recent mornings, half overcast. The usual suspects—but with more juvies than a week or two ago. Finches, robins, even (I think) a young Cooper’s Hawk. (Going by its call, and the parent’s speedy arrival.)
Plus, back home, merged family of California Quail: two mating pairs and six young ’uns.
I love this relatively unremarkable day.
Grandeur Peak Area List Beginning at 7:03 a.m. (8:03 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
A nippy morning. Quite a few birds on the hill, but I was luck to hear their voices above the wind. Most noteworthy was the woodcock that exploded into the air when Jack and I passed it on our way back up from the wooded trail. First-of-year bird.
For all the birds, though, none would pose for photos, so we swung by the harbor, me and Jack—who was celebrating his 11th birthday—and I took a photo of a loon.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Tufted Titmouse** (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 3. Northern Cardinal** (v) 4. American Goldfinch (v) 5. American Crow* 6. American Robin* (v) 7. Turkey Vulture* 8. Song Sparrow* (v) 9. Common Raven 10. Eastern Bluebird (v) 11. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 12. American Woodcock†
Elsewhere
13. House Finch (v) 14. Herring Gull 15. Bohemian Waxwing 16. Mallard 17. Common Loon 18. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year bird
Overcast again this early morning. Chilly. Not windy, though.
Heard and/or saw a bunch of birds but seemingly fewer migrants. Leaves are out all over the place, too, which makes for fewer photos. I did, however, manage a video of a singing Black-throated Blue Warbler somehow—an achievement that truly excited me.
I also got an audio recording of the curiously syncopated drumming of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
