|
|
 |
|
|
Archive for August, 2011
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
 Ruby-throated hummingbird (juvenile). Uncharacteristically, I didn’t sleep well last night.
 Ruby-throated hummingbird (juvenile). My friends know I’m physically active for a guy my age. I ride lots of miles on my bicycle, I hike daily with Jack. Those who really know me (you know who you are) realize I might tend to push myself a little hard—especially for a guy my age. I ride about as fast as I can, I hike in a hurry, take long strides, work up a good sweat. Well, a couple weeks ago I wrenched my right hip. It seemed to be getting a little better, though, until yesterday. Last night I was really limping around. Anyway, I didn’t sleep well.
Today, a rainy day, I nearly ditched my daily hike with dog for the first time in many months. Instead, as the rain appeared to be moving away, I took off work a bit early, grabbed Jack, and drove to Beech Hill, as usual. And found dozens of vehicles in the parking lot. Including one belong to Joe, the preserve steward, who was gathering things for a hike up. He reminded me that it was Coastal Mountains Land Trust annual meeting day.
So we all hiked up—although Jack and I lagged behind. Heard chickadees and (unexpectedly) the high scree! of a broad-winged hawk. (Jays mimic this hawk, but I feel confident this was the raptor itself.) A bunch of the usual birds calling after the rain. And then, as we rounded the long upper turn, a solitary barn swallow appeared and zipped along low above the blueberry fields. (Also unexpected.) And for the second straight day, I heard the song of a yellow warbler.
 Eastern towhee (juvenile). As we passed Beech Nut, we could hear a folk-singing duo entertaining folks in the hut, but we were headed over to where the blackberries are. Also catbirds and yellowthroats. I ate about a dozen ripe, juicy blackberries, I bet—and gave Jack a couple. Then, returning, I heard a loud hum above my head. I knew what that meant. And sure enough, there it was, a young ruby-throat perched on a twig close by. Snapped off a bunch of photos as it eyed us suspiciously, turning its head slightly back and forth and sticking out its outlandishly long tongue.
On our way back over, we stopped to chat for a moment. My hip wasn’t bothering me much, I was happy to discover. Goldfinches circled overhead as we hiked back down. And nearing the parking lot (unexpectedly), I spotted a downy woodpecker bouncing by. It came down in the trees across the road and began to call.
Tonight, I see stars. Tomorrow should be sunny. I wonder if I’ll ride my bike. If I sleep well—who knows?
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee
2. Broad-winged hawk (voice)
3. American goldfinch
4. Cedar waxwing (voice)
5. Eastern towhee
6. Barn swallow
7. American crow
8. Yellow warbler (voice)
9. Gray catbird
10. Common yellowthroat (voice)
11. Ruby-throated hummingbird
12. Downy woodpecker
Elsewhere
13. Northern cardinal
14. Herring gull
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, barn swallow, black-capped chickadee, broad-winged hawk, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, downy woodpecker, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, northern cardinal, ruby-throated hummingbird, yellow warbler
Posted in Lists, Observations | No Comments »
Monday, August 15th, 2011
 Common yellowthroat (female). Today dawned cloudy and remained so all day. This morning I heard the chips of a cardinal out back, heard the squawkings of herring gulls, and spotted a house finch on a wire. Not long after breakfast, I heard a crazy cacophony of crows hollering at something from right out in the dooryard. I glanced out, saw then yelling down at something, ran upstairs for my camera, got a few not-so-great crow photos, and never did see what they were hollaring at.
 American crow. I’ve learned to pay attention to a hollering horde crows. I’ve seen them haranguing numerous red-tailed hawks, other hawks, an oblivious bald eagle one time, ravens. I’ve seen them cursing down at a fox and cats. Invariably, their shouting grabs my attention. Sorry I missed the object of their shouts this morning.
Mid-month, invoice day—which meant I was crazy-glued to my desk for most of it. But when I looked at the weather radar online, I saw a huge mass of rain approaching and figured dog and I ought to grab a Beech Hike when we could, so we grabbed one a little early. Gray skies, not much wind, but a few nice birds. Beginning with the coos of a mourning dove—and of course the invariable bubbling of the voices of the goldfinches that seem ever-present at this time of year.
I heard a single yellow warbler’s song, which was noteworthy. The usual towhees, crows, waxwings. Over the hill where the blackberries are ripening, I heard catbirds and a yellowthroat. Then I got a good look at one of the former; it also got a good look at me.
Song sparrow and phoebe near Beech Nut. (The phoebes, long gone from their nest in the eaves, are still hanging around.) And returning through the brushy lower trail, Jack and I found ourselves suddenly accosted by a fearless female yellowthroat. She was so close I wasn’t sure I could focus, but somehow I manages a couple nice shots.
 Gray catbird. Just before we reached the pickup, I heard a tumult—another angry chorus of crows coming from up the hill somewhere. Again, alas, I was in no position to observe the object of their disdain.
Sure enough, not long after our return, it began to rain. And it’s raining still. A steady rain. Rain pattering with a gentle, soothing sound.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American goldfinch
2. Mourning dove (voice)
3. Yellow warbler (voice)
4. Eastern towhee (voice)
5. American crow
6. Cedar waxwing
7. Gray catbird
8. Song sparrow
9. Eastern phoebe
10. Common raven
11. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
12. Common yellowthroat
Elsewhere
13. Northern cardinal
14. Herring gull
15. House finch
16. Rock pigeon
 Blackberries.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, rock pigeon, song sparrow, yellow warbler
Posted in Lists, Observations | No Comments »
Sunday, August 14th, 2011
 Ripening apples. I’ve lived in places where August was summer’s hot month. Heat would hang in the dusty air under a relentless sun, and humidity would rise. Often, in mid-afternoon, clouds would gather and swift, vociferous thunderstorms would move through in a hurry, cooling things—but not by much. And the next morning the heat would rise again.
 Some kind of fly. But not here at the 44th parallel. Oh, we’ll get a few warm days sometimes. Some years. This year, July brought a little stretch of heat and sweat. But so far August, with its declining photoperiod and occasionally singing cicadas, has proceeded mildly along. Clear days on the coast bring a sea breeze, overcast days shield the landscape from the hot rays of the sun. Today was such an overcast day.
Birds, tending youngsters, remained scarce and secretive, but I did hear the cardinal out there. And goldfinches (always goldfinches) and chickadees. A song sparrow sang from somewhere.
I spent a relatively lazy Sunday going over my novel one last time. (This will take a while, but that’s all right.) Ditched the idea of a bicycle ride. Finally figured it was time for my hike with Jack. So we got ourselves ready, stretched, and set off for Beech Hill.
A few drops of rain fell on the windshield en route, but nothing too ominous. Saw my friends Kristen and Joe at the blueberry hut, where sales have been happening this year. Kristen gave Jack a handful of berries, which he devoured gratefully—or as grateful as a dog can be. I heard goldfinches and the quay! note of a hermit thrush coming from across Beech Hill Road. Then we set up through the first little winding, sheltered stretch of trail.
 Impressions of a redstart. Right away I heard a chickadee in the thicket. We stopped. I scanned the wall of leaves and saw movement. I brought out my fieldglassas and spotted an adult male redstart—to hidden to get a good photo, but I tried. The chickadees (there were at least two) peeped about in the periphery. And I heard a robin’s note. And a vireo up along the road. Six birds within a couple of minutes. Not bad.
The rest of the way, I saw crows, heard towhees and waxwings and two species of sparrow. Heard a catbird and waxwings. Ate a few blackberries and some blueberries. And coming back, I heard the song of a cardinal.
It never really rained much at all, but the overcast persisted. And the coolness. And just now, tonight, the air is sweet and cool and utterly calm.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American goldfinch
2. Hermit thrush (voice)
3. Black-capped chickadee
6. American redstart
5. American robin (voice)
6. Red-eyed vireo (voice)
7. American crow
8. Eastern towhee (voice)
9. Cedar waxwing (voice)
10. White-throated sparrow (voice)
11. Gray catbird (voice)
12. Song sparrow (voice)
13. Northern cardinal (voice)
Elsewhere
14. House sparrow
15. Herring gull
16. Mourning dove
 Birch.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, eastern towhee, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house sparrow, mourning dove, northern cardinal, red-eyed vireo, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow
Posted in Lists, Observations | No Comments »
|
|
| |
| Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson |
|
|
