For the first time in a while I parked well before dawn, but I considered just going home. I persevered because although the wind was the strongest I recall (my app said 17 mph but I've no way to measure it), it was clear for a change. So I grabbed a windbreaker and headed for the shelter of the ridge, shortchanging the first bit of the trail, if there was any activity there. But! The MacGillivray's Warbler was singing where he sang in years past! Two and a half months late as far as I'm concerned.:) I told myself I would not continued out to the point because of the wind, but of course I did. I usually find an additional species or two out there, today it was Red-winged Blackbirds flying west and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. When I walked back the MacGillivray's was still singing and I actually saw him. That's rare for me, and I'm pretty sure he was feeding a nestling/fledgling by the sounds; whatever begging sound a baby bird makes, that sound generally accelerates as the parent approaches with food, and that's what I heard. Which would mean they've been here long enough to have chicks that old, so I don't know why I haven't heard him before. I think other people have, just not me. There seemed to be other fledgling activity there in the dip, with an unusual number of Wrentits. They are notoriously skulky but I suspect recently fledged young where hotly pursuing adults in search of food. This is just my interpretation, very possibly incorrect.
( The list: )No Warbling Vireos or Black-headed Grosbeaks, could be gone or just quiet. I live in hopes. Mammal of the morning was a small bobcat that came ambling up the trail (coyotes trot, bobcats amble). I waved at them and they stopped and unhurriedly turned off the trail upslope, which surprised me since there are more people on Nimitz Way than downslope. So that was fun. All in all I am very glad I didn't just go home.
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bironic
