This morning's outing was short, not even to the Laurel Canyon Trail, although I did spend some time down in Big Leaf picnic area, which is what I do when I can't keep going but don't want to go home. Merlin frustrated me a lot, suggesting birds that absolutely should be there, that I've heard there, but that I could not hear today. Hate that. Anyway, not a long list. The Northern House Wrens are here in greater numbers than earlier and I got a brief but gorgeous view of a Red-shouldered Hawk in flight. ( The list: )

Needed to get further to find Hummingbirds or vireos.

An absolutely glorious morning! Oh, my goodness, perfect weather and everyone singing, it was what we always hope for. First interesting sight was an American Robin chasing an accipiter, in turn being chased by a hummingbird? Amazing. I wasn't able to walk Upper Packrat with U and Chris so I walked up the road and boardwalk to the Lake. Along the boardwalk there was a very loud juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak calling, possibly from the nest and very close to the trail. I hoped they would still be calling when we walked back on the road, and they were! This week we saw where the Brown Creeper U saw last week would slip under the loose bark on a dead tree, presumably to a nest. We also saw an Anna's Hummingbird on a nest just where there was one, very possibly her, on a nest last year. I passed my bins to the other woman on the bench and she saw the nest, too, which is always fun. ( The list: )

Less good is that I am back to pain levels of about this time last year. Then I'd clearly reinjured myself by climbing half or two-thirds of the way up Laurel Canyon; this year my best guess is my attempt to lessen neck and upper back pain by sleeping flat had unintended consequences. As before, after walking fifteen or twenty minutes it gets better so maybe it will resolve as well as it did last year.