Another clear, cool morning with lovely views—both shady woodland and open hilltop. Not quite as many bird species as in recent days, but a couple nice big ones.
Hermit Thrush fledgling.
“Big birds” is a category I use while counting species in my head during our daily hikes, dog and me. Big birds tend to come in batches—larger species that I mostly see in flight. Like ravens, gulls, hawks, and such. Today’s were a Bald Eagle and an Osprey.
A few sweet small birds showed up, too, on this lovely September morning. Perhaps sweetest was a little fledgling Hermit Thrush.
With migration impending, I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:44 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-breasted Nuthatch 2. American Crow* (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. Eastern Towhee 5. Gray Catbird** 6. American Redstart 7. American Robin (v) 8. Purple Finch (v) 9. Common Yellowthroat 10. Eastern Phoebe 11. Blue Jay (v) 12. Song Sparrow 13. American Goldfinch 14. Bald Eagle† 15. Osprey 16. Northern Cardinal** (v) 17. Hermit Thrush 18. Downy Woodpecker 19. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
20. Mourning Dove 21. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
In the 50s (F) when dog and I headed up the trail this morning. Quiet in the shadows, but activity up in the sunlit edges. A good, cool, sun-soaked hike, with flitting warblers, juvie bluebirds, and a glimpse of a (first-of-year) Swainson’s Thrush.
Truly, you can feel it. The coming pull of fall. The diminishing daylight, the dewy, bittersweet aroma in the air, the prime directive of migration among wild birds.
Stirrings.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:44 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. American Crow* 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. Eastern Towhee 5. Gray Catbird 6. American Goldfinch** 7. Common Yellowthroat 8. Cedar Waxwing 9. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 10. Song Sparrow** 11. Swainson’s Thrush† 12. Northern Flicker (v) 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch 14. American Redstart 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler 16. Black-throated Green Warbler 17. Eastern Bluebird 18. Purple Finch 19. Chipping Sparrow 20. Northern Cardinal** (v) 21. Eastern Phoebe 22. Hermit Thrush
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Last night late, when I took Jack out on last time, I spied the setting moon. Sure enough, today dawned with a clear blue sky.
Quieter than the past couple lowery days, but still a bunch of bird species. No odd or outlandish species—nor a true fallout—but singing yellowthroats, a female Black-throated Green Warbler poking about in the poplar grove, and a posing Hermit Thrush down toward the main parking lot. Fun times.
Rode my bike around later. And watched three turkeys strut across the yard out the kitchen window.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:44 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay 2. American Crow 3. American Goldfinch 4. Eastern Towhee 5. Gray Catbird 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Tufted Titmouse 8. Red-eyed Vireo 9. Black-and-white Warbler 10. American Robin 11. Cedar Waxwing 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Eastern Phoebe 14. Song Sparrow 15. Northern Flicker 16. Hermit Thrush 17. Black-throated Green Warbler 18. Red-breasted Nuthatch 19. Red-bellied Woodpecker 20. Eastern Wood-pewee
Elsewhere
21. Rock Pigeon 22. Wild Turkey
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
