Unexpected Visitors in Laguna Mountains

Zone-tailed Hawk

Last weekend, we headed back to the Laguna Mountain area in Cleveland National Forest for a hike on the Sunset and Big Laguna Loop to Big Laguna Lake Trail. With clear September skies overhead, it was a beautiful morning to spend some time on the trails and see what birds we could find.

Trail View

An Easy 3.7-Mile Loop

Trail View

The 3.7-mile loop is easy in difficulty, making it a great choice for a relaxed morning hike. The trail gave us plenty of opportunities to enjoy the mountain scenery while keeping our attention on the trees and open areas for birds.

Overlook

A Busy Start in the Pines

Red-breasted Nuthatch

One of our first memorable sightings was a Red-breasted Nuthatch snacking on pinecones. Watching it work through the cones was a fun close-up look at one of the smaller birds that makes these mountain forests its home. We also saw a lot of Acorn Woodpeckers throughout the hike, adding plenty of activity to the morning.

Acorn Woodpecker

Bluebirds and Sparrows

Western Bluebird

As we continued along the trail, we spotted a few Western Bluebirds along with a Brewer's Sparrow.

Trail View

These sightings added some nice variety to our bird list, and we enjoyed seeing different species moving through the open areas and forest edges.

Brewer's Sparrow

A Special Group of Clark's Nutcrackers

Clark's Nutcracker

A particularly exciting encounter came when we found a group of Clark's Nutcrackers. They are unusual guests in these woods, so seeing a group of them together was a special surprise. It was one of those unexpected sightings that made the hike even more memorable.

Trail View

Raptors Above the Trees

Zone-tailed Hawk

Looking up from the trail brought another highlight: a pair of Zone-tailed Hawks soaring above us. Watching the two hawks circle overhead was an impressive sight and a great addition to our growing list for the morning.

Trail View

A Variety of Flycatchers

Western Flycatcher

We also had a great selection of flycatchers during the hike. We spotted a Western Flycatcher, a few Western Wood-Pewees, and a Hammond's Flycatcher.

Western Wood-Pewee

Seeing several different flycatchers on the same outing made the birdwatching especially interesting.

Hammond's Flycatcher

Another Unusual Flock

Pinyon Jays

Near the end of the hike, we came across a flock of Pinyon Jays. Like the Clark's Nutcrackers, Pinyon Jays are unusual to see in these woods, so finding another unexpected group was a fantastic surprise.

Trail View

Their presence added another memorable moment to an already bird-filled morning.

Trail View

A Great Laguna Mountain Hike

Black Phoebe

We also spotted a Black Phoebe along the way, rounding out an impressive variety of species for such a short and easy trail.

Trail View

Between the Red-breasted Nuthatch working on pinecones, the soaring Zone-tailed Hawks, the unusual Clark's Nutcrackers and Pinyon Jays, and all the other birds along the trail, this 3.7-mile hike turned into another fantastic September morning in Laguna Mountain.

Trail View