Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
A fruitful early birding morning at Beech Hill with Jack, my dog. Overcast and damp and foggy (to start), but, man, were the birds moving through.
Pileated Woodpecker.
In particular, intermittent singing Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, little flocks of White-throated Sparrows, early warblers—Palm and Yellow-Rumped—and a first-of-year Broad-winged Hawk. A pair of American Kestrels was hanging out up toward the summit. The Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers are still carrying on down by Beech Hill Road, as are the cowbirds.
At one point, near the wood fringe, I heard a voice I did not know: a loud, high sort of hee-aw! seemingly coming from the trees. I heard it three times, slowly moving away. Got no idea.
Too dim for any award-winning photos, but that’s OK. I got just enough to job my old memory if and when I forget.
There’s something thrilling, something life-affirming, about little waves of songbirds moving through.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Eastern Phoebe
2. Pileated Woodpecker
3. Hairy Woodpecker
4. Tufted Titmouse
5. Northern Cardinal
6. Herring Gull
7. American Goldfinch
8. Northern Flicker
9. Hermit Thrush
10. Osprey
11. Brown-headed Cowbird
12. Black-capped Chickadee
13. American Crow
14. Eastern Towhee
15. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
16. Mallard
17. American Robin
18. White-throated Sparrow
19. Song Sparrow
20. Yellow-rumped Warbler
21. Palm Warbler
22. Savannah Sparrow
23. American Kestrel
24. Blue Jay
25. Chipping Sparrow
26. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
27. Mourning Dove
28. Broad-winged Hawk
29. House Finch
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
American Kestrels.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American kestrel, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, broad-winged hawk, brown-headed cowbird, chipping sparrow, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, hairy woodpecker, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, osprey, palm warbler, pileated woodpecker, ruby-crowned kinglet, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-throated sparrow, yellow-bellied sapsucker, yellow-rumped warbler
