Yellow-rumped warbler.
Today was kind of spectacular. Close to cloudless, warming into the 60s (F), not much wind to speak of. Had a busy morning, then headed to Beech Hill with dog in mid-afternoon, where we would meet our friends Liz and Daniel.
Canada geese.
We were early, so we wandered around the parking lot for a bit. Saw a robin, heard jays and chickadees and yellow-rumps, heard—then saw—a little flock of juncos. Then I heard the voices of our two native kinglets somewhere in the yellow foliage nearby (never did spot ’em, though). And then I heard the honking of geese and got a glimpse of a vee of them moving southward beyond the trees.
After our friends arrived and we started up the trail, I noticed several large black birds soaring high above us in pairs. Ravens.
We had a nice, leisurely hike—among numerous other humans and dogs—and paused for a time at the summit. Comfortably mild. Warm in the sun. Hardly a cloud in the sky. Heard a flicker (which the others saw), then heard another later. Many, many yellow-rumps up and down the hill. Heard some crows.
Back at the parking lot, where more hikers were arriving, a nuthatch stopped by. Twelfth bird of the day.
Eastern chipmunk.
And it was a gorgeous day.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American robin* (v)
2. Blue jay**
3. Black-capped chickadee**
4. Dark-eyed junco
5. Golden-crowned kinglet (v)
6. Ruby-crowned kinglet (v)
7. Yellow-rumped warbler
8. Canada goose
9. Common raven
10. Northern flicker (v)
11. American crow* (v)
12. White-breasted nuthatch
Elsewhere
13. Herring gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, Canada goose, common raven, dark-eyed junco, golden-crowned kinglet, herring gull, northern flicker, ruby-crowned kinglet, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow-rumped warbler
