Chestnut-sided warbler (Juvenile female).
The day begin with a little rain but ended with a hazy sun. I worked for much of it, dashed out for a quick bike ride after things had dried up, and hiked Beech Hill later than usual. But Jack and I were joined by our friend Liz.
Common yellowthroat.
Despite an evening sun angling through the trees, the woods were dim and glowed green. Plenty of deer flies and mosquitoes, but also plenty of birds. Still skittish and secretive, still not very vocal, but they were moving about before hunkering down for the night. Again vireos sang, and goldfinches and waxwings were out flying around. Crows were active and vocal down the lower slopes, preparing for their late-summer conventions. In the berry thickets about half-way up the slope, we saw several silent catbirds flitting back and forth along the trail.
At one point, I heard the chip of a yellowthroat, so we stopped to get a peek. The bird, a male, scolded us from the undergrowth as I attempted photographs. Then another bird popped up—one I assumed at first to be the female but turned out to be a young chestnut-sided warbler. That’s twice this year I’ve seen those two species hanging out together (or seeming to).
Sailing was still going on out in the haze-cloaked bay, we could see. More waxwings were flying around. A song sparrow made an appearance. I spotted a house finch and heard a distant cardinal.
Returning just below the summit, we surprised the Partridge Family—the young birds scattered, and the mama grouse put up a fuss while snaking away through the shadows.
Evening cedar waxwing.
Hermit thrushes and a wood-pewee down in the lower trees. Also plenty more deer flies and mosquitoes, so we descended in kind of a hurry.
Sixteen birds on today’s Beech Hill list is more than I’ve had in a good while.
Tonight has fireflies and a waxing moon setting off behind the trees.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6:30 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo* (v)
2. American goldfinch*
3. Eastern towhee
4. American crow
5. American robin*
6. Gray catbird
7. Cedar waxwing*
8. Common yellowthroat
9. Chestnut-sided warbler
10. Alder flycatcher
11. Hermit thrush* (v)
12. Song sparrow*
13. House finch*
14. Northern cardinal*
15. Ruffed grouse
16. Eastern wood-pewee (v)
Elsewhere
17. Herring gull
18. Blue jay (v)
19. House sparrow
20. Rock pigeon
21. Chipping sparrow (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, blue jay, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, northern cardinal, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, ruffed grouse, song sparrow
