A chilly morning (low 50s (F)), a cloudless morning (other than a line of clouds far out in the bay), with a stout gusty breeze. I had no expectations, but I thought of the possibility of some interesting migrating birds.
As it happened, there were birds of interest—notably a random Blackpoll Warbler up in the greenery between the woods and open fields—but mostly the usual suspects. Along with a couple “big birds” in flight (Turkey Vulture and Common Raven).
Blackpoll Warbler.
Twenty-four species, though not many numbers of each. Those numbers will increase, though. Looking forward to it.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:37 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Tufted Titmouse 2. Northern Flicker 3. Cedar Waxwing 4. Black-capped Chickadee* 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Gray Catbird 7. American Crow* 8. Blackpoll Warbler 9. Hermit Thrush 10. Blue Jay (v) 11. Yellow-rumped Warbler 12. Common Yellowthroat (v) 13. American Goldfinch (v) 14. Eastern Phoebe 15. Song Sparrow 16. Savannah Sparrow 17. Eastern Bluebird 18. Common Raven 19. American Robin 20. Turkey Vulture 21. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 22. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 23. Downy Woodpecker (v) 24. Brown Creeper (v)
Elsewhere
25. Carolina Wren (v) 26. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Rained overnight, dawned mostly clear. Still damp and dewy, but bright angular sunlight filtering through the trees—decided to head up one of the wooded trails. Settled on the upper one.
Upper trail was a little quiet, summit was pretty quiet, still ID’d a number of the usual suspects. Then, returning via the lower wooded trail, things kind of broke loose: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, even a young Baltimore Oriole in the still-leafy trees. Kept me busy trying to grab photos of all the flitting critters up there in the canopy.
Early fall migration is one of the most fun birding experiences. You never know what might appear. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:22 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Northern Flicker 2. American Crow* 3. Eastern Towhee 4. Gray Catbird** 5. American Goldfinch (v) 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. American Robin 8. Downy Woodpecker (v) 9. Common Yellowthroat 10. Cedar Waxwing 11. Song Sparrow 12. Blue Jay (v) 13. Yellow-rumped Warbler 14. White-breasted Nuthatch 15. Red-bellied Woodpecker 16. Red-eyed Vireo 17. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 18. Baltimore Oriole
A foggy morning down here near sea level. Up on the hill, the blankets of mist lay below us, making the inland hills look like islands—a pretty amazing-looking landscape.
Birds were out and about, too. Ganging up (flickers), moving about (yellow-rumps, waxwings, crows), lurking (towhees, catbirds), vocalizing (nuthatches, chickadees, woodpeckers, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak). The equinox is near.
As is fall migration.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:49 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Wild Turkey 2. Red-breasted Nuthatch 3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 4. American Crow* 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Common Yellowthroat 8. Gray Catbird 9. Field Sparrow 10. Cedar Waxwing 11. Northern Flicker 12. Song Sparrow** 13. Blue Jay (v) 14. American Goldfinch (v) 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler 16. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 17. American Robin (v) 18. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 19. Downy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
20. Mourning Dove 21. Northern Cardinal (v)
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
