Post by Gord on Sept 3, 2024 20:49:00 GMT -8
We went for a family walk today up to Flatiron. We got a good start in fog but we were confident it would lift soon.
Early on in the hike in the fog. The hike starts in the forest and has most of the steep sections here.
74706910054__46e91264-b8be-4f75-85a7-96906d20daf0 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
We heard quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and also found an American Three-toed Woodpecker in this section of trail.
Around 2 km in it gets more rocky but still some steep sections. However some more level parts can be found. Still cloudy but already improving. We found what must be a small migrating flock of Swainson's Thrush. They were very vocal with each other too. A young Chipping Sparrow was in this area as well. Yellow-rumped Warblers were still the most abundant bird. We also got our first of fall Ruby-crowned Kinglet in a mixed flock.
Img_8202 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Finally out onto the granite ridges where it is more level. It never got very windy today but we did get a bit of wind in this section.
Img_8206 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
We came across two small flocks of Western Tanager.
_0247924 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
A Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
_0247920 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
We got to the little lake and it was sunny by then. A good-sized flock of White-crowned Sparrows were here. He could hear White-tailed Ptarmigan but they were way up at the top of the ridge overlooking the lake. We decided we have nice photos of ptarmigan from other trips so enjoyed a walk around the lake instead. There was a decent flock of Horned Lark here which had a lone Lapland Longspur in with them.
Img_8210 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
We headed back and, with the clear skies, kept more an eye on the sky. Not much in the way of raptors but did tally Sharp-shinned, Cooper's and Red-tailed Hawks and Merlin. They come over very low here and we got nice views.
Heading back down the ridge.
Img_8215 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Benny checking out things while on a break
Img_8220 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
It was much quieter on the way back down birdwise. There were quite a few butterflies out in the warmer afternoon. We did get a Sooty Grouse and a Clark's Nutcracker as different birds.
A great hike as always and worth the sore legs. It was also very quiet for humans. We saw a couple guys already on their way out as we were going up and that was it the whole day. A trip report is at the link below. We did a list for the up and a separate one for the trip down for good data collection. I wish I started this earlier in my field notebook career. It sure is easier to not wonder if birds on the trip down are not the same as the trip up. Also, the afternoon checklist certainly yields data that points to bird activity times. Forgive the shameless plug for improving our eBird checklists.
ebird.org/tripreport/272227
Early on in the hike in the fog. The hike starts in the forest and has most of the steep sections here.
74706910054__46e91264-b8be-4f75-85a7-96906d20daf0 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrWe heard quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and also found an American Three-toed Woodpecker in this section of trail.
Around 2 km in it gets more rocky but still some steep sections. However some more level parts can be found. Still cloudy but already improving. We found what must be a small migrating flock of Swainson's Thrush. They were very vocal with each other too. A young Chipping Sparrow was in this area as well. Yellow-rumped Warblers were still the most abundant bird. We also got our first of fall Ruby-crowned Kinglet in a mixed flock.
Img_8202 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrFinally out onto the granite ridges where it is more level. It never got very windy today but we did get a bit of wind in this section.
Img_8206 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrWe came across two small flocks of Western Tanager.
_0247924 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrA Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
_0247920 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrWe got to the little lake and it was sunny by then. A good-sized flock of White-crowned Sparrows were here. He could hear White-tailed Ptarmigan but they were way up at the top of the ridge overlooking the lake. We decided we have nice photos of ptarmigan from other trips so enjoyed a walk around the lake instead. There was a decent flock of Horned Lark here which had a lone Lapland Longspur in with them.
Img_8210 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrWe headed back and, with the clear skies, kept more an eye on the sky. Not much in the way of raptors but did tally Sharp-shinned, Cooper's and Red-tailed Hawks and Merlin. They come over very low here and we got nice views.
Heading back down the ridge.
Img_8215 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrBenny checking out things while on a break
Img_8220 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrIt was much quieter on the way back down birdwise. There were quite a few butterflies out in the warmer afternoon. We did get a Sooty Grouse and a Clark's Nutcracker as different birds.
A great hike as always and worth the sore legs. It was also very quiet for humans. We saw a couple guys already on their way out as we were going up and that was it the whole day. A trip report is at the link below. We did a list for the up and a separate one for the trip down for good data collection. I wish I started this earlier in my field notebook career. It sure is easier to not wonder if birds on the trip down are not the same as the trip up. Also, the afternoon checklist certainly yields data that points to bird activity times. Forgive the shameless plug for improving our eBird checklists.
ebird.org/tripreport/272227
