Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (juvie siblings).
Busy, busy Saturday. I like ’em like that. But it meant scrambling up to Beech Hill with dog in mid-afternoon—not the best birding time of day. Especially not on a warm, bright breezy day.
But I could count on the sapsuckers.
Every day for about two weeks, I’ve seen at least one Yellow-bellied Sapsucker near the Beech Hill Road parking lot. I don’t know for sure, but it almost seems like one (or both) of the adults tapped into three or four trunks in a shady, leafy area, then left these places for their youngsters’ dining pleasure. Today there were two younsters, a male and a female. I got their photos in nearly the same place—one as we headed up, one as we were returning.
Otherwise, I heard a loudly singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet for the second straight day. (Same bird, I”m sure.) Oddly, no Savannah Sparrow, no Common Yellowthroat, no American Robin, no crow. The rest of the summertime regulars were out and about, however.
Tonight is cool and lovely.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
2. American Goldfinch**
3. Cedar Waxwing
4. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
5. Eastern Towhee (v)
6. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
7. Yellow Warbler
8. Song Sparrow**
9. Field Sparrow (v)
10. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
11. American Crow
12. Osprey (v)
13. Tufted Titmouse (v)
14. Herring Gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, eastern towhee, field sparrow, herring gull, osprey, red-eyed vireo, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, yellow warbler, yellow-bellied sapsucker
