Friday the 13th proved to be pure magic at Umtanem canyon, a beautiful sunny
morning; and the birds seemingly competing for attention: Lazuli Buntings
everywhere, a number of Lewis' woodpeckers, [my first], a male Bullock's oriole,
Yellow-breasted Chats calling and doing calisthenics on the tops of shrubs,
Tree Swallows, A Prairie Falcon [pointed out to me by more experianced birders],
American Goldfinches, about 31/2 minutes of serious face time with a
resplendent Townsends' Warbler, possible Purple Finch, Downey Woodpecker, a view of a
Flicker ensconced in it's nesthole [oddly close to the trail], a Golden Eagle,
and when I heard what sounded like a Robin on steroids, I thought it can't be,
but it's quick flight before it vanished revealed diagnostic white wing
patches...a Mockingbird! [any other possiblities from you serious birders, please
let me know] Rufous Towhee, and Brown-headed Cowbirds, Red-Winged Blackbirds,
Magpies...I have never seen a Chuker, but where the scree hit the valley
shrubline at two separate spots, I heard lots of squack-clucking sounds that had to
be coming from a gallinacious bird, certainly not a quail, but I could not
spot them in spite of all the noise they were making. I've read that Chuker are
partial to scree. I also saw a female Bighorn sheep resting on a ledge, and two
rattlesnakes. All this in a spectacular setting, on a beautiful day!! Wow!!
.....Ken McMahon