Gray Catbird (juvie).

Busy day of work and play. Mostly work—desk work, a little carpentry—but in mid-afternoon, I took a break with Jack.

Black Swallowtail.

Beech Hill was hazy and muggy and warm. Plenty of people walking up and down. Quite a few birds lurking in the undergrowth, too—including young White-throated Sparrows, Gray Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers (on the move). Dragonflies sweeping back and forth in elongated rectangular paths along the trail. Assorted butterflies.

Just as I was finishing my carpentry project, it began to rain a little, so I went to replace a broken outdoor lightbulb and was just about to reach in its cylindrical hole when I happened to notice a honeycomb pattern in the dark interior. Wasp nest(s). I decided to put that off for another day.

Tonight it’s raining pretty steadily. Tomorrow is the first day of September.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. American Goldfinch** (v)
2. Blue Jay**
3. Tufted Titmouse (v)
4. Cedar Waxwing**
5. Gray Catbird
6. Common Yellowthroat
7. American Crow*
8. Eastern Towhee (v)
9. White-throated Sparrow
10. Song Sparrow
11. Yellow-rumped Warbler
12. Northern Flicker (v)
13. Black-capped Chickadee
14. Eastern Phoebe

Elsewhere

15. Herring Gull
16. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
17. Laughing Gull
18. Great Blue Heron

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere