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Archive for October, 2012
Sunday, October 7th, 2012
 Ruby-crowned kinglet. First, before I forget, in the wee hours of this morning I heard off to the northwest a curious two-note hoot of a barred owl. Clearly a barred owl—with its telltale rough, downward last note—but not a call I’d heard before.
 Ruby-crowned kinglet. Second, what a biddy afternoon at Beech Hill! The day was gray and chilly and breezy as Jack and I started up the wooded trail. Before we’d gotten very far—literally a stone’s thrown from the parking lot—I heard yellow-rumped warblers, scanned the young trees, and realized we were surrounded by little birds. Some were golden-crowned kinglets: heard them first, then saw them flitting around. Others were ruby-crowned kinglets, many ruby-crowneds, some of them emitting small harsh alarm notes. Not sure I’ve ever been in the company of so man kinglets.
Many ‘rumps, too, and chickadees, and at least one northern parula and one palm warbler. I could see at least two dozen birds zipping about in the trees around us. And beyond them I heard jays, crows, and a towhee. Also spotted a white-throated sparrow fluttering away into the undergrowth. Ten species within about our first fifty yards. A few other hikers walked past us, no doubt wondering what the heck I was looking at, but you’d have to know to pay pretty close attention to see the birds. We were surrounded. It was pretty spectacular.
Farther up the hill I saw more yellow-rumps, more ruby-crowned kinglets, and more white-throats. Also song sparrows. And I heard a flicker and, down the southern slope, at least one bluebird.
Not until we nearly got back to the pickup did I add another bird to today’s list: a titmouse calling from the same birdy area we’d passed at first. But most of the other little birds—notably excepting yellow-rumps—had by then flown.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Yellow-rumped warbler
2. Golden-crowned kinglet
3. Black-capped chickadee**
4. Ruby-crowned kinglet
5. Northern parula
6. Palm warbler
7. American crow* (v)
8. Blue jay**
9. Eastern towhee (v)
10. White-throated sparrow
11. Song sparrow (v)
12. Northern flicker (v)
13. Eastern bluebird (v)
14. Tufted titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
15. Barred owl (v)
16. Herring gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, barred owl, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, eastern towhee, golden-crowned kinglet, herring gull, northern flicker, northern parula, palm warbler, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
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Saturday, October 6th, 2012
 Yellow-rumped warbler. About a million humans on Beech Hill this breezy day when Jack and I hiked the open trail. Well, maybe more like a couple dozen—but still. What with the conversation and the sound of the wind, I wasn’t sure how many birds I’d put on my list, but it turned out to be quite a few.
 Savannah sparrow. Beginning with the continued stream of yellow-rumped warblers moving through. And a couple chickadees. And continuing with a Savannah sparrow hopping along the trail ahead of us (during a lull in the human activity). Spotted a couple song sparrows also. Then, just as I’d finished photographing the Savannah, I caught sight of a harrier flapping away to the west.
Decided to head over and down the wooded trail a little ways—just along the eastern fields—where we ran across another flock of yellow-rumps bouncing about in a bushy area. Heard a flicker’s cry above the wind. Also heard a catbird singing softly nearby, which was kind of odd.
Returning, I heard a crow. We met another batch of humans, and then, along the long open stretch of trail, I made out the notes of bluebirds. Scanned the gray sky. Found the birds—two of them, bound away to the south.
Tonight it rained some. Supposed to get clear and colder. Frost possible for early next week. It is, after all, fall.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Yellow-rumped warbler
2. Black-capped chickadee**
3. Savannah sparrow
4. Song sparrow**
5. Northern harrier
6. Northern flicker (v)
7. Gray catbird (v)
8. American crow* (v)
9. Eastern bluebird
Elsewhere
10. Blue jay (v)
11. Herring gull
12. Tufted titmouse (v)
13. Canada goose
14. Laughing gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
 Birch.
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, Canada goose, eastern bluebird, gray catbird, herring gull, laughing gull, northern flicker, northern harrier, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, yellow-rumped warbler
Posted in Lists, Observations, Photo | No Comments »
Friday, October 5th, 2012
 Peregrine falcon. After a busy, mostly cloudy Friday, the sky cleared just in time for an afternoon hike with dog. We hadn’t gone very far up the Beech Hill trail when I heard the little birds—yellow-rumped warbler, chickadee—and a jay in the distance. While watching a little collection of ‘rumps in the bushes, I caught sight of one warbler bobbing its tail. Sure sign of a palm warbler. (The species often tags along with the yellow-rumps, I’ve noticed.) Then I heard a pileated woodpecker’s strident fluting from across the road.
 Palm warbler. On up the open trail and sparrows appeared. A couple song sparrows first, then a flitting white-throat. Toward the top, I heard a familiar, slight, sharp chip! from the grass, and a Savannah sparrow zipped up into a bush to check us out. Heard a flicker, a crow, and a towhee. (Kind of nice that towhees are still hanging around.) Sails in the bay still, some barely visible in a bank of offshore fog. Fall color coming to the trees.
As we circled Beech Nut, I heard a goldfinch fly over. Looked up to see if I could spot the little bird, but instead a saw a big one—clearly a falcon, flapping rapidly a few times, then circling. Circling toward us. Just circling. This made me think “peregrine.” It was a pretty large bird, too.
Later, at home, after downloading photos and studying my “Hawks at a Distance” guide (thanks, Kristen!), I felt satisfied with my initial ID. Second peregrine I’ve seen up there. Always nice to have such a handsome, unexpected visitor.
 Savannah sparrow. Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Blue jay** (v)
2. Black-capped chickadee** (v)
3. Yellow-rumped warbler**
4. Palm warbler
5. Pileated woodpecker (v)
6. Song sparrow
7. White-throated sparrow
8. Savannah sparrow
9. Northern flicker
10. American crow* (v)
11. Eastern towhee (v)
12. American goldfinch (v)
13. Peregrine falcon
Elsewhere
14. Herring gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, eastern towhee, herring gull, northern flicker, palm warbler, peregrine falcon, pileated woodpecker, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, 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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