Alder Flycatcher.
On a morning in May, alone with your dog,
you turn a corner in the trail and never know
what bird you’ll see
or even if it’ll be
a bird at all, or maybe a chipmunk,
raccoon, red squirrel, or porcupine.
Pileated Woodpecker.
Today’s around-the corner bird—
a fresh-faced Alder Flycatcher, new arrived,
and singing “free beer!”
flitting there and here
and wherever the hovering flies are,
laying claim to new territory.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 9 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (v)
2. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
3. Chestnut-sided Warbler
4. Ovenbird** (v)
5. American Redstart (v)
6. American Goldfinch
7. Veery
8. American Crow*
9. Gray Catbird
10. Common Yellowthroat (v)
11. Black-and-white Warbler
12. Blue Jay** (v)
13. Eastern Towhee
14. Scarlet Tanager (v)
15. Alder Flycatcher
16. Yellow Warbler
17. Osprey
18. Field Sparrow (v)
19. Song Sparrow**
20. Eastern Phoebe*
21. Tree Swallow
22. Turkey Vulture*
23. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
24. American Robin*
25. Blackpoll Warbler (v)
26. Chipping Sparrow** (v)
27. Common Raven
28. Northern Flicker (v)
29. Northern Parula (v)
30. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
31. Pileated Woodpecker
32. Eastern Kingbird
33. Savannah Sparrow (v)
34. Mourning Dove*
35. Purple Finch
36. Hermit Thrush**
37. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
38. White-breasted Nuthatch* (v)
39. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
40. Northern Cardinal
41. Common Grackle
42. Herring Gull
43. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, blackpoll warbler, blue jay, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common grackle, common raven, common yellowthroat, eastern kingbird, eastern towhee, field sparrow, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, northern parula, osprey, ovenbird, pileated woodpecker, purple finch, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, rose-breasted grosbeak, savannah sparrow, scarlet tanager, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, veery, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow warbler, yellow-bellied sapsucker
