Great Horny Toads, I’m up North! - Calibirdication day 7

Thursday August 25

We got up early start to beat the crowds that we anticipated would be clogging Yosemite. Thankfully most tourists sleep later than we did. What a place! Such scenery, and so much to explore. Of course we were on a mission to see birds, and that guided our focus.
 

Guided. But not limited. We stopped often to drink in the views. Stopping at ‘the valley’ we walked some trails and basked in the first rays of the sun as it peaked around obstacles. And then the birds started appearing in earnest. I am most accustomed to birds liking a very early start, but I guess where it tends to be chilly in the morning the birds take more time enjoying their coffee.
 

Many of the birds were the expected species, but it was nice to see them in an unhurried state where we could watch them interact. Creepers and Juncos of two flavors were all over, as were the Steller’s Jays.

Along one of the paths we heard a call that sounded vaguely familiar. We chased it down and spotted the bird proclaiming its dominion over the patch of woods. I spished and called it to get better looks at the Cassin’s Vireo, a lifer for the goils.
 

Cassin's Vireo

We walked across a meadow in between the roadways, and looked around at the imposing geology in the bright morning smiling sunshine. We walked along the Merced river, and picked out birds bathing under cover of willows in the sandbars. Song Sparrows are of course ubiquitous, as were Juncos but we were grey-ced with two Black-throated Grey Warblers who posed nicely. All so important when it is a much desired life bird for Arlene. She was greytful.
 

Black-throated Grey Warbler

We moved on to the ‘village’ and did a bit of the touristy thing and got some snackage including a most tasty beer. It was worth a stop but I am not a fan of crowds and the public was amassing. So we retreated to White Wolf campground for more peaceful surroundings once again.
 

A small group of Audubon’s Warblers { might as well get used to calling them that again } seemed as curious about us as we them, and a Hermit Warbler afforded much better looks for all, and satisfied my perilous promise of finding another.

When we got to the expansive Tuolumne Meadows, I found a bird that I was most pleased to see: a Prairie Falcon. Though it was a distance away, its distinctive field-marks were readily seen and I for one rejoiced mightily. It flew about several times, and landed for a while.  It would have been nicer had it come closer, but then again, that’s why we carry optics. Perspective wise, compared to the warblers that we all delight in, this is a bird that I have not seen anywhere near as often so I especially appreciated finding it.
 

Our next stop was the Aspen Grove Campground where we hoped to find Dipper. It was a beautiful walk, but we found that the water level was not quite right, and per the camp host, the bird frequented a rock outcrop where it had a nest, but had not been present for a while. We inquired of other locations, and did some exploring down the road without luck. When we got to the end of the road we stopped at ‘the Mobil station’ which is quite the popular stop for food. We skipped partaking, but with evidence that we had cell service, I was commanded by Lisa to Contact Rich Veery, who had been in the area in the recent past.
 

I’m a doc, ya flea-bitten varmint … I’m Riff-Raff Sam … the riffiest riff that ever riffed a raff!

He gave us directions to a pullout that was unmarked so that looking for it by name was useless. But he sent us coordinates, and that sent us right to the spot where we took a hike along a stream that was quite well hidden.

Lisa had been going on and on about wanting to see a dipper, and we were doing our best to find one. Approaching a vantage for looking downstream, Arlene called out that she had spotted it in pretty much the exact spot Rich said it would be. Lisa got on it, but of course complained that she had not gotten a good photo. Arlene and I spontaneously groaned in harmony, which inadvertently resulted in calling in a head of mule deer, coyotes, and other small furry woodland creatures such that we were startled and feared for our lives. Then Lisa complained about not getting a photo yet again, and they scattered. Phew.

At this location were some junipers, and it looked right for Green-tailed Towhee habitat. I walked around and found one for us, and then spished it up for a good look.
 

Green-tailed Towhee

Satisfied with our results here, or at least two of us were, we continued on to the Mono Basin. I was hoping beyond hope that Rich’s luck in getting a Grey-crowned Rosy-finch would be repeated by us, as this was another of my nemesis birds. It was not. Dang.

With light fading we headed to Mammoth Lakes for the night, where we were warned by the innkeeper about the 20 or so bears roaming the area, so leave no food in the car lest they smash their way in to your car to get some. Guess what I was thinking as we walked through town in the dark to get dinner...