Savannah sparrow, Beech Hill Preserve.
Early rain, late hike. Not so many birds singing in late-afternoon, and they’re really shy at this nestling/fledgling season, and the mostly overcast sky kept the mosquitos swarming—but I had a quiet blast in the woods.
Tiger swallowtail.
Heard a nearby black-throated blue warbler, is what started it. As I cast about for the bird, I heard another Blackburnian, and so was casting about for two tiny warblers in the leafy canopy. Also a hermit thrush was singing nearby, and I heard what sounded like a chipping sparrow. Jack and I ventured off-trail—when suddenly a red-bellied woodpecker appeared out of nowhere, silently drilling for something. Did catch site of the Blackburnian. Got a blurry photo of the black-throated blue. A nuthatch showed up suddenly. The thrush flitted away.
Ad I did confirm the chippy.
Returning, the sun emerged, and I got a portrait of a Savannah sparrow.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo (v)
2. Black-throated green warbler (v)
3. Common yellowthroat (v)
4. Veery
5. Osprey
6. American crow*
7. Ovenbird (v)
8. Rose-breasted grosbeak (v)
9. Black-capped chickadee (v)
10. Hermit thrush
11. Black-and-white warbler (v)
12. Eastern wood-pewee
13. American robin**
14. Chestnut-sided warbler
15. Black-throated blue warbler
16. Blackburnian warbler
17. Red-bellied woodpecker
18. White-breasted nuthatch
19. Chipping sparrow
20. American goldfinch**
21. Gray catbird**
22. Eastern towhee
23. Alder flycatcher (v)
24. Yellow warbler**
25. Song sparrow**
26. Savannah sparrow
27. Tufted titmouse**
28. Field sparrow
29. Eastern phoebe** (v)
30. American redstart (v)
31. Mourning dove*
32. Northern cardinal** (v)
Elsewhere
33. House finch (v)
34. Herring gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated blue warbler, black-throated green warbler, blackburnian warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, field sparrow, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, osprey, ovenbird, red-bellied woodpecker, red-eyed vireo, rose-breasted grosbeak, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, veery, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow warbler
