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Archive for October, 2012
Friday, October 19th, 2012
 Yellow-rumped warbler. This day had some nervousness in it. The forecast called for rain, but the sky stayed cloudy for a while before clearing a little, and a stout wind picked up. Jack and I had a chance at mid-afternoon to take a quick Beech Hill hike. The sky had mostly cleared by that time, but you could tell from the dark southwest sky that a storm was on its way.
 Dodges Mountain. Encountered the usual yellow-rumped warblers right away. And a couple chickadees. More yellow-rumps in the bushes along the trail, where they’ve taken to hanging out lately on their way through. Not a whole lot else, though. Not even many humans, and no dogs. A scenic landscape all around, though, and rough water in the bay.
Returning, I heard the voice of a raven behind me and turned to watch the bird soar over, heading more or less southward. (Though I spied another about a half-mile away ahead of us.) Then I saw three crows.
As we neared the base of the hill again, I heard something—a lone robin at the top of a colorful hardwood. Then, flying from the direction of the robin, six other thrushes: bluebirds, singing, flying south.
A pair of common birds, a pair of corvids, and a pair of thrushes.
On the drove home, a few raindrops spattered the windshield. And tonight, it’s been raining off and on—and blowing like crazy.
 Beech Nut. Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3 p.m, I hiked the open trail.
1. Yellow-rumped warbler
2. Black-capped chickadee**
3. Common raven
4. American crow*
5. American robin
6. Eastern bluebird
Elsewhere
7. White-breasted nuthatch (v)
8. Herring gull
9. Rock pigeon
10. Blue jay
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, common raven, herring gull, rock pigeon, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow-rumped warbler
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Thursday, October 18th, 2012
 Yellow-rumped warbler. Today was kind of spectacular. Close to cloudless, warming into the 60s (F), not much wind to speak of. Had a busy morning, then headed to Beech Hill with dog in mid-afternoon, where we would meet our friends Liz and Daniel.
 Canada geese. We were early, so we wandered around the parking lot for a bit. Saw a robin, heard jays and chickadees and yellow-rumps, heard—then saw—a little flock of juncos. Then I heard the voices of our two native kinglets somewhere in the yellow foliage nearby (never did spot ’em, though). And then I heard the honking of geese and got a glimpse of a vee of them moving southward beyond the trees.
After our friends arrived and we started up the trail, I noticed several large black birds soaring high above us in pairs. Ravens.
We had a nice, leisurely hike—among numerous other humans and dogs—and paused for a time at the summit. Comfortably mild. Warm in the sun. Hardly a cloud in the sky. Heard a flicker (which the others saw), then heard another later. Many, many yellow-rumps up and down the hill. Heard some crows.
Back at the parking lot, where more hikers were arriving, a nuthatch stopped by. Twelfth bird of the day.
 Eastern chipmunk. And it was a gorgeous day.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American robin* (v)
2. Blue jay**
3. Black-capped chickadee**
4. Dark-eyed junco
5. Golden-crowned kinglet (v)
6. Ruby-crowned kinglet (v)
7. Yellow-rumped warbler
8. Canada goose
9. Common raven
10. Northern flicker (v)
11. American crow* (v)
12. White-breasted nuthatch
Elsewhere
13. Herring gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, Canada goose, common raven, dark-eyed junco, golden-crowned kinglet, herring gull, northern flicker, ruby-crowned kinglet, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow-rumped warbler
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Wednesday, October 17th, 2012
 Yellow-rumped warbler. This day was a lovely one: sunny, relatively mild—maybe 60 degrees (F)—and relatively calm. Got a lot of desk work done and then took care of errands on my bicycle. [Aside: I really like buying commemorative stamps at the post office.] Felt great to be riding strong again.
And then, Beech Hill. Seeing how the day’s loveliness had not diminished by late-afternoon, the place was buzzing—several cars, more than a dozen humans, maybe half a dozen dogs. This makes birding something of a challenge, but without a roaring wind for a change, I could use my sense of hearing. Right away I heard: jays, crows, chickadees, and a robin. On the sunny side of the trail, scores of yellow-rumps were hopping about like popcorn, and I heard one song sparrow.
Didn’t dawdle at the summit, what with all the other folks and dogs around, but I did note what appeared to be the beginnings of the annual crow convention: at least forty or fifty crows were flapping hear and there, having some kind of conversation of caws.
Returning, I heard the voices of a bluebird, a hairy woodpecker, and a titmouse. It was a busy ol’ day.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Blue jay** (v)
2. American crow*
3. Black-capped chickadee**
4. American robin* (v)
5. Yellow-rumped warbler
6. Song sparrow (v)
7. Eastern bluebird (v)
8. Hairy woodpecker** (v)
9. Tufted titmouse** (v)
Elsewhere
10. Herring gull
11. European starling (v)
12. Northern cardinal (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, European starling, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, northern cardinal, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, yellow-rumped warbler
Posted in Lists, Observations | No Comments »
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| Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson |
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