Yellow-rumped warbler.
The temperature this sunny day exceeded yesterday’s—albeit not my by much. Still, the days are lengthening now, and it’s New Year’s Day, and I figured I might as well haul Jack up to Beech Hill a little early, to beat the crowds.
Rabbit, rabbit (snowshoe hare tracks).
And we did beat the crowds—just barely. Pulled in, got us out of the truck, and stood for a minute listening. Heard no calling birds of note, but I did see a sudden scrap of black winging away from the dead pine trunk. The pileated woodpecker was back. I’d forgotten to look for it. But I did spot some chickadees poking about the trees around the parking lot, and on our way up trail I heard the chips of a yellow-rumped warbler through a rising breeze.
OK, let’s go ahead and call it a wind. It was freaking cold up there.
No matter, we just upped our pace a notch. Headed over the summit and down the other side, where I heard a few more yellow-rump chips. Then saw a scattering of the birds flitting about the bayberries—maybe a half-dozen of them—along with a solitary chickadee. We hiked clear down to the woods and several yards in before turning around.
Ran into the ’rumps again on our way back up and over. Maybe the same ones, maybe new ones—they were in a different area. Also saw a flicker.
And coming back down the main trail, I spotted a lone raven winging high in the blue-blue sky.
Tonight is vivid and clear. Snow tomorrow, or so I hear.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 11:30 a.m., I hiked the open trail (and then some).
1. Pileated woodpecker
2. Black-capped chickadee
3. Yellow-rumped warbler
4. Northern flicker
5. American crow* (v)
6. Common raven
Elsewhere
7. Herring gull
8. House finch (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, common raven, herring gull, house finch, northern flicker, pileated woodpecker, yellow-rumped warbler
