Autumn Meadowhawk (female).

This bright, chilly morning revealed few Beech Hill birds—not visually, at least—but it was brimming with dragonflies. Autumn Meadowhawks were everywhere.

Autumn Meadowhawk (male).

As the birds stayed mostly hidden, meadowhawks readily presented themselves here and there up the trail, waiting until Jack and I got very near before skedaddling away. At the summit, and over onto the sunny eastern side, they appeared in still greater numbers, arrayed on leaves and stones and the boardwalk. One nearly lit on Jack. One nearly lit on me.

We encountered a snake over there, too—a good-sized Common Garter Snake—which slipped noiselessly into the ticky undergrowth. And we encountered another as we got near to completing our hike. This second snake had clearly just dined on something (the lump was all-too-apparent), which is perhaps why it didn’t mind putting up with a little photo session.

(Upside)-Downy Woodpecker.

I liked hearing the notes of Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet. They’ve got quite similar voices, those two species.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Purple Finch (v)
2. American Goldfinch (v)
3. Blue Jay
4. Black-capped Chickadee**
5. Yellow-rumped Warbler
6. American Crow*
7. Northern Flicker (v)
8. White-throated Sparrow (v)
9. Brown Creeper (v)
10. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
11. Downy Woodpecker
12. Golden-crowned Kinglet (v)

Elsewhere

13. Rock Pigeon
14. Herring Gull

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

Common Garter Snake.