The invasion of the brightly colored tropical migrants continues! I had occasion to be in Yosemite Valley yesterday in the midst of some spectacular thunderstorms (the occasion was "I wanted to go spend the afternoon in Yosemite with Mrs. Geotripper"). We stopped for a moment to take pictures of some big rocks (specifically the Three Brothers) and we realized that there were bright orange-colored birds flitting about in the trees overhead. As always I thought "orioles" first, but a look at the stocky beak quickly told me that we were seeing Black-headed Grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus) instead. I had seen the male of the species only once before (last Thursday to be precise), so this episode provides support for the idea that one sees what one is looking for, and doesn't see what one is not looking for. They haven't been in Yosemite Valley for very long. They've been reported by only six observers on eBird, the first report having come in on April 21st.
We moved up the valley and ended up at Mirror Lake. While enjoying the spectacular view of Mt. Watkins over the reflecting waters of the "lake" (really a wide spot in the stream), I heard an insistent, but pretty bird song in the trees above. After a few moments I located another Black-headed Grosbeak trying to draw the attention of the ladies. The video appears below.
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