Today the turnout for the bird walk here at Bryce Canyon was kind of small (6) but resulted in the highest species total since I began leading them almost a month ago with 22. The highlights were many as we observed several parents feeding hungry offspring: American Robin, Townsend's Solitaire, Chipping Sparrow, Pygmy Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. The real biggy came just as things were winding down and we spotted a male Western Tanager fly up to a pine just off the trail - and into a nest with hungry mouths that were attached to babies still in pin feathers. Too much fun for one morning!

Here's the complete list of species:

White-throated Swift, Northern Flicker, Say's Phoebe, Steller's Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed), Brown-headed Cowbird, Cassin's Finch, plus 1 female hummingbird species (either Black-chinned or Broad-tailed) who was "hawking" insects (knew they did it but it was the first time I have actually seen the behavior!).

And, for a little icing on the cake, when I came from work today I watched a young Yellow-rump foraging on its own!