Northern Harrier.
Storm’s a comin’. Well, actually, as I write this, it’s her—a big, cold rainstorm here on the coast (although snow is piling up inland). But this morning, only a little rain was falling, and a bit of a breeze was blowing, when at midday Jack and I took a quick Beech Hill hike.
Black-capped chickadee.
Or at least the plan was for it to be quick, but so many birds showed up that it slowed us down a bit. A half dozen at the parking lot—chickadee, titmouse, brown creeper, downy woodpecker, mourning dove, crow—and a pair of mallards flying fast overhead. The track was muddy, with ice on the fringes. At the summit, I scanned the fields and spotted what looked like a good-sized bird sitting there maybe a couple hundred yards away. Turned out to be a harrier. Stayed and watched it until it took off and flew away to the north.
Back at the parking lot again, I saw both downy and hair woodpeckers, a nuthatch, and a little handful of goldfinches. Quite an active day.
Blowing like crazy out there just now.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 12:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-Capped Chickadee**
2. Brown Creeper
3. Tufted Titmouse
4. Downy Woodpecker
5. American Crow*
6. Mourning Dove (v)
7. Mallard
8. Northern Harrier
9. White-Breasted Nuthatch
10. American Goldfinch
11. Hairy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
12. House Sparrow (v)
13. Northern Cardinal (v)
14. House Finch (v)
15. Herring Gull
16. Ring-Billed Gull
17. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, brown creeper, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern harrier, ring-billed gull, rock pigeon, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
