Fronds.
Frustrating day at work today. But nothing a Beech Hill hike won’t cure.
American redstart.
The sun shining Mosquitos buzzing. Fern fronds spreading. Redstarts calling. Most birds are keeping quiet, attending to secretive chores—but a few made their presence known. Actually caught sight of a catbird, for instance—they’ve kept especially scarce lately. Towhees, not so much. And ovenbirds were out.
At the summit, song and savannah sparrows were active. Didn’t see the phoebes. Did see a lone tree swallow in matchless flight.
Returning down the muddy lower woods, I heard singing veery and hermit thrush and wood-pewee. Can’t think of a sound much more lovely than that combination. Got a look at the pewee—it’s a challenge I’ve taken this year, finding the singing pewee.
After my sunny hike with Jack this afternoon, I felt appropriately refreshed. The work frustrations can wait until tomorrow.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo* (v)
2. Gray catbird
3. American crow* (v)
4. Ovenbird (v)
5. Chestnut-sided warbler
6. American redstart
7. Tufted titmouse (v)
8. Eastern towhee
9. Black-capped chickadee* (v)
10. Common yellowthroat* (v)
11. Song sparrow*
12. Alder flycatcher (v)
13. Savannah sparrow
14. Tree swallow
15. Veery (v)
16. Hermit thrush (v)
17. Eastern wood-pewee
18. Black-throated green warbler* (v)
19. American goldfinch* (v)
20. Black-and-white warbler (v)
Elsewhere
21. House finch (v)
22. House sparrow
23. Herring gull
24. European starling
25. Rock pigeon
26. Mallard
27. American robin
28. Northern cardinal
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, European starling, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house sparrow, northern cardinal, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, veery
