Northern Cardinal.
Cardinals sang from every snag,
it seemed, as dog and I hiked up.
Sweet notes—repeated, slow and quick—
pledged love, laid claim to kingdoms.
As later we descended,
a pair of males began to duel.
They veered and swirled, a frantic chase,
They hollered at each other.
Finally they paused to rest
a foot apart, glaring, staring,
before the interloper fled.
The king his queen defended.
Song Sparrow.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Northern Cardinal**
2. Eastern Towhee
3. Tufted Titmouse**
4. American Robin*
5. Blue Jay*
6. American Goldfinch**
7. White-throated Sparrow (v)
8. Dark-eyed Junco (v)
9. American Crow*
10. Song Sparrow**
11. Common Raven (v)
12. Eastern Phoebe
13. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
14. Black-capped Chickadee**
15. Northern Flicker
16. Yellow-rumped Warbler (v)
17. Turkey Vuture
18. Herring Gull*
19. Mourning Dove*
20. White-breasted Nuthatch**
21. Downy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
22. Rock Pigeon
23. European Starling
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown-headed cowbird, common raven, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, European starling, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, rock pigeon, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
