Common yellowthroat (female).
The season is half-over already. I can tell because of the ripening of blackberries, the emergence of mushrooms, the flitting silence of birds. Also the calendar. And just the feel of things.
Black-capped chickadee.
Today began foggy, the fog turned to overcast, the overcast became fog again. Sun emerged fleetingly during the middle of the day, and it never rained, but I’d gotten busy writing at my desk and didn’t ride my bike. Nor did I take a trip to town. I stuck around here until quitting time, when Jack and I took a hike.
Crows were calling at the parking lot. A family of chickadees accosted us at the first turn of the trail. When I paused to photograph the chickadees, a common yellowthroat popped up from nowhere—which just reminded me of the “chickadee trick,” the tendency of our other birds to respond to the little black-capped guys.
Heard waxwings but saw none. Neither saw nor heard any hermit thrushes (they’ve been silent for several days). Did hear towhees in the distance, and two species of sparrow. And faintly mewing catbirds. Also a vireo and two wood-phoebees. But the only birds I actually saw up there were yellowthroats, chickadees, and an overflying goldfinch.
Ate a nice, ripe blackberry, though. Saw a red squirrel. Heard crickets. Noticed mushrooms in the woods.
American red squirrel.
But every day is a miracle. I worship the changing seasons.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. American crow* (v)
2. Black-capped chickadee*
3. Common yellowthroat
4. Cedar waxwing (v)
5. American goldfinch
6. Gray catbird (v)
7. Eastern towhee (v)
8. Chestnut-sided warbler (v)
9. White-throated sparrow (v)
10. Song sparrow (v)
11. Eastern wood-pewee (v)
12. Red-eyed vireo (v)
Elsewhere
13. Mourning dove
14. Herring gull
15. Northern cardinal (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, gray catbird, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, red-eyed vireo, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow
