Cool early as dog and I hit the shady trailhead, but warm in a hurry as the sun rose on a humid day. Birds still flitting about, readying for their inevitable travels. Nice selection of species.
Notable: Chimney Swifts, and a Least Flycatcher enjoying the summit fly hatch (along with waxwings). A random Wood Thrush down in the woodlands. Distant gulls. A random Cooper’s Hawk (I believe the first I’ve seen since our return to Maine).
Especially happy to have had a Savannah Sparrow—my favorite sparrow, as certainly I’ve mentioned before—perch and pose for me.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:33 a.m., I hiked most trails.
Sunny and cool this morning, but warming pretty fast. Birds were active, but acting a little peculiarly—a little quieter, a little nervous, flitting about—which I attribute to early migratory urges. Then, as we approached the summit, I heard human voices up there. Turned out this was “Thrill of the Hill” race day.
A bunch of folks of all ages showed up for this annual fun(d)raiser—which was a real gas to observe.
Also fun to grab a decent photo of an Alder Flycatcher—usually shy to pose.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:10 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. Ovenbird 3. Northern Cardinal** (v) 4. American Crow* (v) 5. American Goldfinch 6. Gray Catbird 7. Eastern Wood-pewee 8. American Robin 9. Black-capped Chickadee 10. Common Loon (V) 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Red-bellied Woodpecker 13. Eastern Towhee 14. Common Yellowthroat 15. Black-and-white Warbler 16. Yellow Warbler 17. Cedar Waxwing 18. Alder Flycatcher 19. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 20. Song Sparrow** 21. Yellow-rumped Warbler 22. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 23. Barn Swallow 24. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 25. Tufted Titmouse (v) 26. Hermit Thrush
Elsewhere
27. Carolina Wren (v) 28. Mourning Dove 29. Rock Pigeon 30. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Cool again this morning, but breezier and clearer and warming up in a hurry. Birds about—reawakened after yesterday’s soaking rain. A few returning species, a few familiar friends, nothing particularly outlandish.
But the blue of the sky and a few juvenile bluebirds and late summer’s yellowish sun-color… It all added up to a pretty miraculous morning.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:33 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. American Crow* 3. American Goldfinch** 4. Black-capped Chickadee 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Blue Jay 7. Veery (v) 8. Eastern Wood-pewee** (v) 9. Ovenbird 10. Gray Catbird 11. Common Yellowthroat 12. Northern Flicker 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 14. Broad-winged Hawk 15. Song Sparrow 16. Savannah Sparrow 17. Cedar Waxwing 18. American Redstart (v) 19. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 20. Eastern Bluebird 21. Tufted Titmouse 22. Chipping Sparrow 23. Turkey Vulture 24. Herring Gull* 25. Downy Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
26. Carolina Wren 27. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
