Lower Packrat Trail was beautiful this morning but, as I've been saying for weeks, quiet. Swainson's Thrushes were calling but I heard not even a piece of a song. Wilson's Warblers were chipping and occasionally singing and I heard three singing Orange-crowned Warblers, which continues to surprise me. Those were all the migrants I encountered, but U and Chris found a Black-headed Grosbeak and a Warbling Vireo! At this point we assume they are migrants moving further south but who knows? ( The list: )

Along the way I heard several birds singing quietly, as though trying out song phrases. I couldn't be certain of their species but it's always very cool to hear.

The weather this morning was perfect, entirely justifying my wait for better conditions. I didn't need a jacket and was down to a t-shirt by the end. The MacGilivray's Warbler was still singing! I got an excellent look at him, too. Also an Orange-crowned Warbler was chipping, I heard one song, and I got a brief look at them. That was a nice start. But the most unexpected event was that it was apparently Blue-gray Gnatcatcher dispersal day. There were at least three and I think five at the north end of the trail, bouncing around in the baccharis, flicking their long, white-edged tails. They didn't vocalize much, which is a shame as I love their buzzy little call, but I got pretty good looks at them. ( The list: )

When I arrived at the parking lot a little before dawn there was a crowd of people apparently watching for the sunrise. It didn't seem to be a private party, and it's not Easter, or May Day, or Solstice. Am I missing something? They were a little loud and took up most of the parking spots, but they didn't linger.

Because today looked like the best weather this week I was parked at Inspiration Point by sunrise, not that one could tell it was sunrise for the blowing fog. I argued with myself for about ten minutes and then drove down to Loop Road. It was heavily overcast there, too, of course, but the fog and wind were up in the trees, not down on the trail. It was quiet, but that does make it easier to listen for small sounds. I walked out and sat on the bench for a while, listening, and then went down another trail I hadn't been on in years, not entirely sure what I'd find. These are all civilized trails, but I am very limited in how high a step up I can manage. But it was fine and I found the bench I'd remembered. The trail is through riparian habitat, quite lovely and little used, and comes out on the service road up to the top of the Little Farm. The big flycatchers seem to have left, but a Black Phoebe was perched on the back of the bench up there, so that was convenient. The thrushes weren't vocal yet but I did hear a Wilson's Warbler. ( The list: )

Not especially exciting, but another good woodpecker and nuthatch day.:)

This morning was just about perfect, a bit of fog to start but almost 60 and no wind. In fact it was a bit too warm by the time I left. It was a three warbler morning, not bad for August, and all singing; I hadn't heard a Wilson's sing in a while, and like a few days ago there was one and possibly two Orange-crowned Warblers singing, but best of all there was a MacGillivray's Warbler! He chipped loudly for quite a while and then began to sing. I was very glad he did because I'm not entirely confident of their chip note. I got a brief glimpse of him, but not diagnostic. ( The list: )

Other highlight was hearing a Common Raven.:) It's been several weeks.