I’m grateful that, during the current pandemic, my routine has barely changed. Not sure how I lucked out, how it happened this way, but I’ve worked at home anyway, and I live near a series of nature trails, where I hike with my dog every day, and where most days we see no other dog or human (and those who we do see are friendly and conscientious).
Some in my situation would feel lonesome—no one has been in my house for at least six months—but I’ve lived as kind of a loner anyway for many years. What saves me is the hike, my devotion. My visit with Jack into the center of all things, miraculous Nature.
Lately (for weeks, really) that hike has involved a family of Warbling Vireos. I watched them nest. I peeked into the trees as the nestlings became fledglings. And this morning I watched as the whole family fluttered about in the junipers. They’re expert fliers, those vireos.
(Another thing that saves me, of course—goes without saying, really—is dear Captain Jack, my dog.)
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Rock Pigeon*
2. Black-billed Magpie*
3. House Finch**
4. Black-chinned Hummingbird
5. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
6. Lazuli Bunting
7. Mourning Dove*
8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
10. Spotted Towhee
11. Downy Woodpecker
12. Western Tanager
13. Chipping Sparrow (v)
14. Warbling Vireo
15. Pine Siskin (v)
16. American Robin*
Elsewhere
17. Eurasian Collared Dove
18. House Sparrow
19. California Quail
20. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California quail, chipping sparrow, downy woodpecker, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, mourning dove, pine siskin, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, spotted towhee, warbling vireo, western tanager, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
