Chilly at first, with a half-overcast sky, but then the clouds flew away and the sky turned clear and blue. Mostly the usual suspects—including a large gang of robins—but bluebirds again, which is always nice. And along with the bluebirds, high up in the trees of the spruce grove, a random Blackpoll Warbler appeared. First warbler other than a yellow-rump I’ve seen in a couple weeks, at least.
Warmed right up today. Seems warmer than it used to be. Not complaining, exactly, but the climate, it is a-changing’.
Mostly only Red Oak leaves remaining, and those should be falling soon. November on the way.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:06 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. White-breasted Nuthatch 3. Brown Creeper 4. American Robin 5. American Crow 6. Purple Finch 7. Yellow-rumped Warbler 8. Blue Jay 9. Hairy Woodpecker 10. Northern Flicker 11. American Goldfinch 12. Eastern Bluebird 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch 14. Blackpoll Warbler 15. Song Sparrow
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A little later, a little warmer than yesterday’s hike—perhaps a little calmer air, as well. All this combined to deliver a few more birds. And an interesting variety, from thrushes, to woodpeckers, to finches, to corvids, to sparrows—even my first waxwing in a while.
Most notable might’ve been the (very loud) Red-shouldered Hawk that appeared low above the trees—too low for a photo, alas, but you can’t miss this species’ call.
Busy otherwise today—a fruitfully busy one. Frankly, I could relieve this day forever and be content.
But tomorrow will come another one. And what’ll happen, no one knows.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:06 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Tufted Titmouse 2. American Crow 3. American Robin** 4. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 5. Purple Finch 6. Black-capped Chickadee** 7. Downy Woodpecker 8. Red-bellied Woodpecker 9. American Goldfinch 10. Hairy Woodpecker 11. Yellow-rumped Warbler 12. Blue Jay** (v) 13. Eastern Bluebird 14. Northern Flicker 15. Cedar Waxwing 16. Song Sparrow (v) 17. Savannah Sparrow 18. Red-shouldered Hawk 19. White-throated Sparrow 20. Brown Creeper
Mammals
American Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Still in the 30s (F) when dog and I hit the trail this a.m. Bright, though, with barely a breeze, and the birds began to let themselves be heard—and seen. Chickadee, titmouse, nuthatch, woodpeckers, jays. They even showed up in numbers: a whole bunch of bluebirds in flight, even more robins bouncing around the treetops, and dozens of cawing crows.
But most fun for me were hawks. First, I spied a Cooper’s Hawk (which had the robins nervous), and later we came upon a handsome Northern Harrier, patrolling low above the blueberry barrens as they do here in both spring and fall. Got a glimpse of one last month, and now another in October.
It’ll be nice to see a “gray ghost” come spring.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:06 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. American Robin 3. Brown Creeper (v) 4. Tufted Titmouse 5. Eastern Bluebird 6. Blue Jay 7. White-breasted Nuthatch 8. Downy Woodpecker (v) 9. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 10. Yellow-rumped Warbler 11. Cooper’s Hawk 12. American Crow 13. American Goldfinch (v) 14. Northern Harrier 15. Savannah Sparrow 16. Dark-eyed Junco (v)
Elsewhere
17. Golden-crowned Kinglet (v) 18. Rock Pigeon 19. European Starling 20. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
