A later hike than the past couple-three days—but what a luscious hike it was. Mostly clear, cool to start, fewer mosquitoes, and a bunch of bird species. Captain Jack had plenty of smells to investigate, peed here and there. Spied a hummingbird.
And took photos of a particularly cooperative Field Sparrow. Handsome little birds these are. Thanks, little guy.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:42 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 3. Northern Cardinal** (v) 4. American Goldfinch 5. American Crow* 6. Ovenbird (v) 7. Veery (v) 8. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 9. Wild Turkey (v) 10. Black-and-white Warbler 11. Eastern Wood-pewee 12. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 13. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 14. Tufted Titmouse (v) 15. Brown Creeper (v) 16. Black-capped Chickadee** 17. Northern Flicker (v) 18. Hermit Thrush (v) 19. Common Yellowthroat 20. Eastern Towhee 21. Alder Flycatcher (c) 22. Song Sparrow 23. Gray Catbird 24. American Robin 25. Yellow Warbler 26. Cedar Waxwing 27. House Wren 28. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 29. Field Sparrow 30. Herring Gull* 31. Eastern Bluebird 32. Blue Jay (v) 33. Eastern Phoebe 34. Chestnut-sided Warbler 35. Osprey (v) 36. Broad-winged Hawk (v)
Elsewhere
37. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Another coolish, mostly clear early morning for dog and me. Much like yesterday—but with a notably different variety of birds. Fowl, for one thing—a gang of turkeys and a first grouse sighting of the year (although I heard a few booming back in spring).
Most obvious, perhaps, was the high numbers of Cedar Waxwings. I thought I saw a little fly hatch up in the tips of the summit spruce grove, but there also happened to be plenty of ripe berries. These late nesters might well have some youngsters to contend with also—but they were all over the open areas, in small roaming flocks.
A bunch of other young birds out rambling around also, most approaching adulthood (or adult-sized)—like towhees.
Summer’s such a rich, active, entertaining time of year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:05 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 2. Song Sparrow** 3. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 4. American Goldfinch 5. Ovenbird 6. Wild Turkey 7. Downy Woodpecker (v) 8. Eastern Towhee 9. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 10. American Crow* 11. White-breasted Nuthatch 12. Tufted Titmouse 13. Brown Creeper (v) 14. Hairy Woodpecker 15. Black-capped Chickadee** 16. American Robin* 17. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 18. Hermit Thrush (v) 19. Common Yellowthroat 20. Alder Flycatcher (v) 21. Yellow Warbler (v) 22. Northern Flicker (v) 23. Cedar Waxwing 24. Gray Catbird 25. Field Sparrow (v) 26. Eastern Phoebe* 27. Eastern Bluebird 28. Blue Jay (v) 29. Purple Finch 30. Ruffed Grouse 31. Northern Parula (v) 32. Veery
Elsewhere
33. Mourning Dove 34. Herring Gull 35. Osprey
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
After the thundershowers of yesterday, things cooled off overnight. This morning was nearly cloudless when dog and I headed up the trail, and the air was a lot cooler than the past few. Plus, at the summit, a nice southwesterly breeze ruffed our hair. (Well, Jack’s, as I don’t have a lot left these days.)
