Song Sparrow (left) and Savannah Sparrow.
Another early morning Beech Hill hike with dog. Another lovely (if still a little chilly) sunny morning. Lots of birds—including three first-of-year ones (Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher)—and, at the summit, a glimpse of a big, handsome Eastern Coyote.
Eastern Coyote.
We’d taken our time climbing through the woods, stopping to let me attempt photos of black-and-whites or white-throats or ovenbirds, so it took us about an hour to get to the summit. Right about 7 a.m. As we started down the open trail, I heard a crow suddenly begin to scold loudly down the eastern slope, stopped, looked—there was the coyote. I got a couple photos, then watched it lope across the field and slip into the woods.
And right away, I got some photos of sparrows. First a Song Sparrow, then a Savannah. They’re similar birds, to the uninitiated (and even a few of the initiated, depending on the light and time of year): brown sparrows, streaky breasts, similar head patterns, spot in the middle of their chests. Above are both birds, to compare and contrast.
Matter of fact, before we even left the house, I got a good look at a Chipping Sparrow, which seem only to be occasional there (unlike at Beech Hill Road, where they’ve fledged young in the same tree every year for the past several). A handsome, smaller bird with a chestnut cap and dark eye-line. Lots of white-throats are moving through, and you can hear males singing now and then—”Old Sam Peabody, Peabody” yadda-yadda. Lovely, distinctive bird. And of course towhees are also, technically, sparrows.
Chipping Sparrow.
Did not encounter a Field Sparrow today, but they’re about. I’ve only seen one Vesper Sparrow on the hill—just moving through, I’m pretty sure. Have seen a couple White-crowned Sparrows during migration also, spring (colorful) and fall (drab). And I’ve lucked into a couple photos of ruddy Swamp Sparrows and rich, brown-and-gray Fox Sparrows. Have seen American Tree Sparrows in winter, but no photos yet.
They’re not the gaudiest birds, but they’re familiar, varied, comforting somehow. I’m happy there are sparrows in the world.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Blue-headed Vireo
2. Ovenbird**
3. American Goldfinch**
4. Hermit Thrush
5. Tufted titmouse* (v)
6. Black-and-white Warbler**
7. American Robin*
8. Common Yellowthroat
9. Black-capped Chickadee**
10. American Crow*
11. Eastern Towhee
12. Northern Cardinal**
13. Rose-breasted Grosbeak† (v)
14. Mallard
15. Mourning Dove*
16. Yellow-rumped Warbler*
17. Chestnut-sided Warbler† (v)
18. Herring Gull* (v)
19. White-throated Sparrow (v)
20. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming)
21. Song Sparrow**
22. Northern Parula (v)
23. Brown-headed Cowbird
24. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
25. Savannah Sparrow
26. Blue Jay** (v)
27. Chipping Sparrow*
28. Eastern Phoebe
29. Broad-winged Hawk
30. Downy Woodpecker
31. White-breasted Nuthatch* (v)
32. Gray Catbird (v)
33. House Finch** (v)
34. Palm Warbler
35. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v)
36. Great Crested Flycatcher (v)
37. Wild Turkey (v)
Elsewhere
38. Bald Eagle
39. Rock Pigeon
40. European Starling
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsehwere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, blue jay, blue-headed vireo, broad-winged hawk, brown-headed cowbird, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common yellowthroat, downy woodpecker, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, gray catbird, great crested flycatcher, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern parula, ovenbird, palm warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak, ruby-crowned kinglet, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, wild turkey, yellow-bellied sapsucker, yellow-rumped warbler
