Peregrine falcon.
After a busy, mostly cloudy Friday, the sky cleared just in time for an afternoon hike with dog. We hadn’t gone very far up the Beech Hill trail when I heard the little birds—yellow-rumped warbler, chickadee—and a jay in the distance. While watching a little collection of ‘rumps in the bushes, I caught sight of one warbler bobbing its tail. Sure sign of a palm warbler. (The species often tags along with the yellow-rumps, I’ve noticed.) Then I heard a pileated woodpecker’s strident fluting from across the road.
Palm warbler.
On up the open trail and sparrows appeared. A couple song sparrows first, then a flitting white-throat. Toward the top, I heard a familiar, slight, sharp chip! from the grass, and a Savannah sparrow zipped up into a bush to check us out. Heard a flicker, a crow, and a towhee. (Kind of nice that towhees are still hanging around.) Sails in the bay still, some barely visible in a bank of offshore fog. Fall color coming to the trees.
As we circled Beech Nut, I heard a goldfinch fly over. Looked up to see if I could spot the little bird, but instead a saw a big one—clearly a falcon, flapping rapidly a few times, then circling. Circling toward us. Just circling. This made me think “peregrine.” It was a pretty large bird, too.
Later, at home, after downloading photos and studying my “Hawks at a Distance” guide (thanks, Kristen!), I felt satisfied with my initial ID. Second peregrine I’ve seen up there. Always nice to have such a handsome, unexpected visitor.
Savannah sparrow.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Blue jay** (v)
2. Black-capped chickadee** (v)
3. Yellow-rumped warbler**
4. Palm warbler
5. Pileated woodpecker (v)
6. Song sparrow
7. White-throated sparrow
8. Savannah sparrow
9. Northern flicker
10. American crow* (v)
11. Eastern towhee (v)
12. American goldfinch (v)
13. Peregrine falcon
Elsewhere
14. Herring gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, eastern towhee, herring gull, northern flicker, palm warbler, peregrine falcon, pileated woodpecker, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
