This morning at Ranger Peak I had a nice variety of birds that made it worth the drive. And I had the whole place to myself. While the large burn area next to the road is not in good shape at all, I found plenty of activity in the remaining green conifers and oaks at the west and east ends. Most notably I had a tooting NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL which attracted a mob of birds that included at least three MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES. I was also a bit surprised to hear three singing WESTERN TANAGERS. It seems a bit late for spring migrants but maybe not. MOUNTAIN QUAIL were heard around the area fairly close to the road, and Lawrence's Goldfinch is common in pairs and small feeding flocks. Olive-sided Flycatchers are also in the area.
A word of caution for Merlin users- Merlin stupidly thinks Lazuli Bunting is Yellow Warbler. This happened to me a few times this morning. There are no Yellow Warblers up there in the burned and brushy hillsides.
