Eastern towhee (female).
Solved a major work problem today. (Yay!) And so to celebrate I went for a nice, long bike ride. At one point I managed to pass about two dozen fellow cyclists all touring together—pass them fast—which made me feel like some kind of big shot, although I’m essentially an impostor.
Chestnut-sided warbler.
Then Jack and I took a lovely Beech Hill hike. Up through the trees (where we met Chet again), and along the burgeoning berry brambles. Heard two fairly uncommon birds (for that particular stretch of hillside), a cardinal and a flicker. Then again, I didn’t hear or see any catbirds at all (and after they’ve been so vocal the past few days) nor a single veeries (ditto). No black-throated green warbler singing from the canopy.
But the vireos were going crazy. And towhees were active. Up along the upper field, I watched a chipping chestnut-sided warbler flitting about, being closely trailed by what looked to me like a yellowthroat fledgling. Weird. The adult yellowthroats, meanwhile, were staying well hidden—not popping up on perches as they’ve done in recent weeks.
I suppose all this crazy hit-or-miss bird behavior means we’re closing in on mid-summer. Certainly nothing to complain about.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo (v)
2. American goldfinch*
3. Chestnut-sided warbler*
4. Black-capped chickadee (v)
5. Common yellowthroat*
6. Cedar waxwing*
7. Eastern towhee
8. Northern cardinal* (v)
9. Northern flicker (v)
10. American crow*
11. Hermit thrush (v)
12. Ovenbird* (v)
13. Song sparrow* (v)
14. American robin
15. Yellow warbler (v)
16. Savannah sparrow
17. Eastern wood-pewee (v)
Elsewhere
18. House finch (v)
19. Herring gull
20. Rock pigeon
21. Osprey
22. Chipping sparrow (v)
23. Gray catbird (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Fledgling (common yellowthroat?).
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, northern cardinal, northern flicker, osprey, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, yellow warbler
