Yellow-rumped warbler.
Yellow-rumped warblers have got to be one of the most successful native species on the continent—certainly this part of the continent, or points north of here. Wave upon wave of the hardy little birds move through in spring and fall. Particularly fall. They’re the most numerous warblers I see during migration, invariably. They outnumbered all others on Monhegan last week; they outnumber every species just now on Beech Hill.
Red.
Jack and I took our hike at the same late hour as yesterday, only today was a wetter day. The rain had become drizzle by the time we started up the open trail. Spotted a few white-throated sparrows in the undergrowth. Then came the chips of the warblers.
I looked up and saw loose flocks of a dozen or twenty flying over or flitting amid the trailside vegetation. Stood near one clump of berry bushes and young trees while six or eight ‘rumps hopped about, foraging. (Like most warblers, they eat a lot of insects, but they also enjoy bayberries—and will even come to feeders.) Stood there for five minutes, maybe, while crows and jays called in the distance and a harrier swept over the hillside up the trail.
Finally, we continued on up, surprising a couple of song sparrows. Also heard the quick cry of a lone towhee and the tut-tut-tut! of a robin.
Otherwise, not much this rainy day. Gulls and chickadees. And a few fall peepers tonight—a warm, damp night in October. I’m imagining clouds yellow-rumps up in the dark sky now, migrating.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. White-throated sparrow
2. Yellow-rumped warbler
3. American crow
4. Northern harrier
5. Blue jay
6. Song sparrow
7. Eastern towhee
8. American robin
Elsewhere
9. Herring gull
10. Black-capped chickadee
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, eastern towhee, herring gull, northern harrier, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
