Another morning much like yesterday. And the day before. And I daresay tomorrow morning. The ten-day forecast looks kinda boring—few clouds, plenty of sun, no precipitation—but I don’t mind.
This morning’s hike with dog took us along our usual route—until I heard the notes of a Townsend’s Solitaire from up the north side of the Millcreek Pipeline Ridge. Had ample water supplies for Captain Jack. So we hiked the ridge loop.
And encountered quite a variety of bird species. First kestrels in a while. Swallows. A random female Bullock’s Oriole. Met (and chatted with) a few nice fellow hikers. Jack drank all the water.
Every day’s a new day, every hike unique, every bird sighting a sort of minor miracle. (Looking forward to tomorrow.)
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked abou 1,200 hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Lazuli Bunting
2. Rock Pigeon*
3. American Robin*
4. Black-chinned Hummingbird
5. Black-billed Magpie*
6. Mourning Dove*
7. Spotted Towhee
8. Black-capped Chickadee**
9. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
10. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
11. House Finch
12. California Quail* (v)
13. Pine Siskin
14. Black-headed Grosbeak
15. American Kestrel
16. Townsend’s Solitaire (v)
17. Chipping Sparrow
18. Cliff Swallow
19. Lesser Goldfinch (v)
20. Warbling Vireo
21. Bullock’s Oriole
Elsewhere
22. Eurasian Collared Dove
23. House Sparrow
Mammals
Rock Squirrel
Mountain Cottontail
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American kestrel, American robin, black-apped chickadee, black-billed magpie, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, blue-gray gnatcatcher, Bullock’s oriole, California quail, chipping sparrow, cliff swallow, Eurasian collared dove, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, mountain cottontail, mourning dove, pine siskin, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, spotted towhee, Townsend’s solitaire, warbling vireo, Woodhouse’s scrub jay
