White-breasted Nuthatch.
Halloween approacheth. So it was perhaps fitting that I saw my first Brown Creeper in a while. Nah, they’re not actually creepy—but they do kind of sneak up on you. And they look a little unusual, all bark-colored and curve-billed.
Afternoon trail.
This one showed up right at the end of my afternoon hike with dog, in the trees around the parking lot of Beech Hill Preserve. As I was letting Jack back into the pickup. I heard it first, then it came flying right toward me, not a couple feet above the roof of my truck, and zipped up onto the bark of a spruce very near us. The light was dim, alas, and I got no clear photos.
I did get some mediocre photos of a nuthatch, at least.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch
2. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)
3. Yellow-rumped Warbler
4. American Crow* (v)
5. Song Sparrow (v)
6. Brown Creeper
Elsewhere
7. House Sparrow (v)
8. House Finch (v)
9. Blue Jay (v)
10. Downy Woodpecker (v)
11. Herring Gull
12. Canada Goose
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown creeper, Canada goose, downy woodpecker, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, song sparrow, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow-rumped warbler
