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Spring Bird Song

As the days grow warmer, new birds migrate to the nesting areas and begin setting up their territories, declaring them from tree tops, fence posts and signs. During yesterday’s early morning walk, I heard bluebirds, sparrows, finches and meadowlarks. Owls wake us up at night with their hooting. There is so much to see and hear!

Here is the song of the Western Meadowlark from the Cornell website.

Morning light on yonder hills
Western Meadowlark
Mountain Bluebird
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl

Pipestone Canyon

Most of the snow has melted so ski season is mostly over and hiking season is officially underway. Mountain Bluebirds and Spotted Towhees added a few sprinkles of color in an otherwise pretty monochrome setting. The songs of Western Meadowlarks accompanied me for much of the hike. This area burned in the giant fires of 2014.

Mountain Bluebird
Female Mountain Bluebird
Spotted Towhee
Ants
Common Raven nest

The morning’s bird list: Gray Partridge, Dusky Grouse, Golden Eagle, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Say’s Phoebe, Black-billed Magpie, Clark’s Nutcracker, Common Raven, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Bluebird, American Robin, Brewer’s Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, Western Meadowlark, Cassin’s Finch.

A Few Good Bird Sightings and Some Wet Weather

The weather forecast indicated about 20% chance of rain in the mountains yesterday. Around here, that means it’s not likely to rain. It was sunny and reasonably warm at home when the girls and I left for the 6500′ Freezeout Trailhead and the hike to Tiffany Mountain. The temperature was 46 degrees Fahrenheit and it was sunny when we started walking. Good weather for an uphill hike to the 8242′ summit.

In the burned forest (this is part of the Tripod burn from ten years ago) I heard and saw numerous birds, including lots of young ones with adults searching for food to feed the nestlings.

When we walked away from the trees, the sky was solidly overcast but still no sign of rain. Nearing the top, I started to feel occasional pelts of small hail. At the top, it was obvious that the weather was going to take a turn for the worse. We shared my peanut butter sandwich and I put on my extra layers (two coats, gloves and a wool hat) and tucked my camera away. Normally we would linger on the mountain top and look around for more birds and flowers and maybe ladybugs but not this time. It was hailing pretty solidly by then. And as we walked downhill it was soon raining. We didn’t notice the birds or flowers much on the way down. Still, it never got too cold and it wasn’t windy and I had the right extra gear with me. Overall it was a nice day.

Roger Lake is a real gem
Lots of downed lots on the lower part of the trail but they didn’t slow Sky any.
Paintbrush
A very young grouse – either a Dusky Grouse or a Spruce Grouse, depending on who I ask.
This game camera is aimed right at the trail. Are they counting hikers and dogs or looking for something else?
Lupine
Lupine
Mountain Bluebird nest hole
Male Mountain Bluebird feeding young
Male Mountain Bluebird at the nest hole
Female Mountain Bluebird feeding young
I think this is a Savannah Sparrow
Reliable water following rainy summer days
Luna was wet before it even started raining
Horned Larks nest on the side of Tiffany
Near the top looking back at the trail
Approaching storm
Approaching storm
I was hoping it would go towards the Okanogan and not towards me
See the storm on the other side of the ridge past Tiffany Lake?

Spring Scenes

Spring brings new growth and birds on the wing. We continue to work on restoration with new plantings and weed pulling. It could be a full-time job. But we’re not like that. We need to spend time enjoying the natural world around us.

Tree Swallow on a nest box on the garden fence
More Tree Swallows at another nest box
Balsamroot and lupine
Mountain Bluebirds
Western Bluebird
Pileated Woodpecker on a tree near our house
Lupine
Lupine, balsamroot and Patterson Mtn in the background
Lupine and lomatium
Cat’s ear lily. Calochortus sp

Signs of Spring – Birds and Bees

Despite what the calendar indicates, Spring is bursting out all over. The animals feel it. They are out foraging for fresh food. Insect-eating birds have returned from their winter vacations and are having no trouble finding bugs to consume. A Northern Pygmy-owl spent a couple of days here eating the voles whose dirty handiwork is emerging from the melting snow. I’d hoped the owl would stay longer to put a real dent in the vole population but it has moved on. Both Western and Mountain Bluebirds have arrived. The Western’s are checking out nest boxes and making plans for the upcoming breeding season. It is fun to watch the pairs take turns examining a box and seemingly discussing the pros and cons of each one. ‘Look this one has a nice view’. ‘ Ahh but I like that one over there with the better perch’. Well what about that one out there?’ ‘Too close to the dog corral’. And on and on it goes. The Say’s Phoebe, a pretty bird with a soft, sometimes two-note call has also returned. It is a member of the flycatcher family and easily identified, unlike some of its relatives. And high on our hill I found a singing Western Meadowlark – truly a joyous sound of spring! Most of these birds were pretty distant for photography, except the ferocious looking owl. But that didn’t keep me from trying.

And on another note, Ken took the lids off of his two beehives and sure enough, they are still alive and ready to start foraging as soon as the flowers start to bloom!

Say’s Phoebe with Northern Pygmy-owl in the background
Say’s Phoebe with Northern Pygmy-owl in the background
Say’s Phoebe
Western Bluebird
Way distant Mountain Bluebird against a bluebird sky
Singing Western Meadowlark
Honeybees
Angry honeybees
One of our neighbor’s new nest boxes on an aspen that burned last summer
Northern Pygmy-owl
Eyes on the back of its head
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