Gray catbird.
A week since my little accident. Took my bike in for a tune-up. Maybe this time next week I’ll be back in the saddle. Meanwhile, I’ve still got Beech Hill.
Shady trail.
Where Jack and I hiked, as we have nearly all summer, late in the day. Really quiet up there. You’ve just gotta stop and listen carefully if you want to know what birds are lurking around. Crows were the most vocal today. Quite a few chickadees. Near one little roving band of chickadees, I happened to spot a silent, flitting redstart. Never did see the chickadees.
Heard a single flicker. Heard a single vireo. Did also spot an ovenbird zipping away off the trail. Not until we neared the summit did any bird give me a good look: a catbird, mewing like crazy in the brush alongside the lower fields. A really good look, in fact—got a half-way decent photo for a change.
Otherwise, slim pickin’s. Although I had a surprise on our return trip when I heard the jumbled-up song-and-chatter of a titmouse. It sang partial phrases from its telltale “Peter, peter peter!” song—e.g., “Pete, cheep-cheep, Peter, cheep-cheep-cheep, Pete.” It was weird.
Tonight the air is cool and the sky is black. I see a couple stars up there.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hike the wooded trails.
1. American crow*
2. Black-capped chickadee (v)
3. American redstart
4. Ovenbird
5. Northern flicker (v)
6. Red-eyed vireo (v)
7. Gray catbird
8. Cedar waxwing
9. Common yellowthroat
10. Song sparrow (v)
11. Tufted titmouse (v)
12. Eastern wood-pewee (v)
Elsewhere
13. Herring gull
14. Mourning dove
15. Rock pigeon
16. Northern cardinal (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American redstart, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, eastern wood-pewee, gray catbird, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, song sparrow, tufted titmouse
