American Kestrel (hovering).
Well, what do you know, a kestrel.
Yesterday, in my high-falutin’ treatise on timing, I mentioned that I had my eye out for one—that if you paid close enough attention, you could almost peg the day that bird species would show up in your neighborhood. I thought of the little falcon today as I hiked up and over Beech Hill Preserve with Jack, my dog. I scanned the breezy, chilly, still-brown slopes. I saw no kestrel, no hawk of any kind.
Hermit Thrush.
I did, however, follow a hermit thrush up the wooded trail. Stalked the little guy slowly, quietly. Got a few photos (but not as good as those I got stalking one down through the woods later—maybe even the same bird). Came upon a whole mess of kinglets, which must’ve moved in overnight. A wave of juncos must’ve arrived, also, as there were a dozen or more down by the road. Hairy and downy woodpeckers were following each other around again down there. Weird.
Saw another palm warbler, too, in the same place as the little cluster of them in the sun yesterday morning.
Then, coming back up and over the fields, I saw a little bird fly by and perch in a tree. I knew that flight, I knew that bird. A little female kestrel. A limb was in the way, so I didn’t get a great photo of it perching, but I got a few of it hovering. Gave me a little thrill, I can tell you that.
Also saw a “gray ghost” (male Northern Harrier) down in the lower field, too far away for pictures.
American robin.
Just as we got back to the parking lot, it began to rain a little, and the rest of the day was wet and chilly.
But I got that American Kestrel, right on cue.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. Eastern Phoebe**
4. American Crow*
5. Northern Cardinal**
6. Herring Gull* (v)
7. American Goldfinch (v)
8. Hermit Thrush
9. Song Sparrow**
10. Golden-crowned Kinglet
11. Common Loon (v)
12. Blue Jay
13. Osprey
14. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
15. Palm Warbler
16. Hairy Woodpecker
17. Downy Woodpecker
18. Dark-eyed Junco
19. House Finch (v)
20. Mourning Dove (v)
21. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
22. American Kestrel†
23. Northern Harrier
24. White-throated Sparrow (v)
Elsewhere
25. Mallard
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American kestrel, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown-headed cowbird, common loon, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, eastern phoebe, golden-crowned kinglet, hairy woodpecker, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern harrier, osprey, palm warbler, pileated woodpecker, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow
