Merlin.
Man, what a busy day. Had a nice morning with Sarah, saw her off at midday, worked some, rode my bicycle off to take care of errands, hiked Beech Hill for an hour with Jack, mowed the lawn in twilight. Out there just now shines a full harvest moon.
Gray catbird.
The Beech Hill hike began auspiciously, as we saw a solitary turkey on the roadside as we pulled into the parking lot. Then things went quiet. Finally heard the notes of a white-throated sparrow and some yellow-rumped warblers—lots of yellow-rumps, actually—and spotted a catbird in hiding. Up and over by ourselves, where we heard a few more species, then headed back down about the time everyone seemed to be headed up. I guess to watch the moonrise.
Ran into some birding friends and stopped to chat and during our chat a falcon flew by, a merlin. It had headed back up the hill, so Jack and I reversed our course and walked up a ways until I spotted the bird in a birch tree.
Looking forward to heading out to Monhegan in a few days.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Wild turkey
2. White-throated sparrow (v)
3. Yellow-rumped warbler
4. Gray catbird
5. Blue jay**
6. American crow* (v)
7. Cedar waxwing (v)
8. Eastern towhee (v)
9. Merlin
10. Song sparrow (v)
11. black-capped chickadee**
Elsewhere
12. Herring gull
13. Rock pigeon
14. House sparrow
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, blue jay, Cedar waxwing, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, house sparrow, merlin, rock pigeon, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, wild turkey, yellow-rumped warbler
