Female Eastern Towhee.
I dilly-dallied this morning, thinking I might even wait a little later to hike Beech Hill. That, on account of waking up about dawn and hearing rain out there. And having it be dark and overcast and foggy at first light. But Jack and I went anyway.
Banded Black-and-white Warbler.
Ended up seeing or hearing more birds than any other day this year. And about the time we were headed back, the sky had begun to clear. And I even got a long bike ride in—then mowed the lawn
Hummingbirds everywhere on the hill today. A first-of-year Blackpoll Warbler (singing). First-of-year Alder Flycatcher (ditto). And first-of-year Laughing Gulls (not at Beech Hill). Heard a booming Ruffed Grouse. Missed some good photos because of a crappy auto-focus—but then thought about how eventually I’ve come not to care so much. Just a muttered curse, and I move on.
Saw copulating Chipping Sparrows.
Oh, yeah—I did a photo of a banded Black-and-white Warbler (a female, carrying nesting materials). She was the first banded bird I’ve ever come across up there. Didn’t even notice the band until I looked at the photo.
All and all a groovy Sunday.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Goldfinch**
2. Ovenbird**
3. Chestnut-sided Warbler**
4. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
5. American Robin*
6. Common Yellowthroat**
7. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v)
8. American Crow*
9. Black-and-white Warbler
10. Veery
11. Eastern Towhee
12. Black-capped Chickadee
13. American Redstart
14. Yellow Warbler**
15. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
16. Mourning Dove*
17. Mallard*
18. Common Raven
19. Gray Catbird**
20. Purple Finch (v)
21. Hermit Thrush (v)
22. Song Sparrow**
23. Herring Gull* (v)
24. Blue Jay
25. Eastern Phoebe**
26. Alder Flycatcher† (v)
27. Northern Cardinal (v)
28. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
29. Wild Turkey (v)
30. Ruffed Grouse (booming)
31. Wood Thrush (v)
32. Northern Flicker (v)
33. Downy Woodpecker (v)
34. White-breasted Nuthatch
35. Chipping Sparrow
36. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
37. Eastern Bluebird (v)
38. Blackpoll Warbler† (v)
39. Double-crested Cormorant
40. Savannah Sparrow
41. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
42. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v)
Elsewhere
43. Laughing Gull†
44. Turkey Vulture
45. European Starling
46. Red-winged Blackbird (v)
47. Rock Pigeon
48. House Sparrow (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Gray Catbird.
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated blue warbler, black-throated green warbler, blackpoll warbler, blue jay, brown-headed cowbird, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common raveng, common yellowthroat, double-crested cormorant, downy woodpecker, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, European starling, hermit thrush, herring gull, house sparrow, laughing gull, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, ovenbird, purple finch, ray catbird, red-eyed vireo, red-winged blackbird, rock pigeon, rose-breasted grosbeak, ruby-throated hummingbird, ruffed grouse, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, veery, white-breasted nuthatch, wild turkey, wood thrush, yellow warbler
