Eastern towhee.
The towhees are settling in at Beech Hill, singing variations of Drink your teaaaa! all up and down the trails. I’m pretty sure the hill has more towhees on it than beech trees these days.
Savannah sparrow.
Other species continue to arrive. Kestrels were still perching on little trees and trail posts and weed stalks when Jack and I moved through early this a.m.—saw at least three again today. A house finch called from the spruce grove at the summit. A turkey vulture flew over. Heard four sparrow species singing—well, five, if you count the towhees.
Nippy still, breezy. Took a short (five-mile) bike ride in the sun this afternoon.
Now, here, tonight, I can still hear towhees singing from the budding berry brambles of my mind.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:15 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American robin**
2. Eastern phoebe**
3. American crow*
4. American goldfinch (v)
5. Black-capped chickadee**
6. Eastern towhee
7. Yellow-rumped warbler
8. American kestrel
9. House finch**
10. Turkey vulture
11. Golden-crowned kinglet
12. Song sparrow**
13. Savannah sparrow
14. Northern flicker (v)
15. Field sparrow (v)
16. White-throated sparrow (v)
17. Herring gull*
18. Northern cardinal** (v)
19. Tufted titmouse (v)
20. Downy woodpecker (v)
21. Brown-headed cowbird†
22. Tree swallow
Elsewhere
23. Mourning dove
24. Rock pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American kestrel, American robin, black-capped chickadee, brown-headed cowbird, downy woodpecker, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, field sparrow, golden-crowned kinglet, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
