Caterpillars at Beech Hill this morning—caterpillars everwhere. I watched one climb a strand of silk, watched another just hang there. And I saw several getting their brains bashed out by warblers and vireos.
Among the vireos, a Philadelphia stood out: only the second I’ve seen up there (I’m pretty sure). I also saw a solitary Cliff Swallow being herded through the air by an angry hummingbird.
And I saw butterflies, several species. Nice to know some caterpillars survive through metamorphosis.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:15 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Tufted Titmouse (v)
2. Blue Jay (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Song Sparrow
5. Gray Catbird
6. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
7. Red-eyed Vireo**
8. American Goldfinch**
9. Northern Flicker (v)
10. American Crow* (v)
11. Yellow Warbler (v)
12. Cliff Swallow
13. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
14. Cedar Waxwing
15. Eastern Phoebe
16. Yellow-rumped Warbler
17. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
18. Ovenbird
19. Philadelphia Vireo
20. Black-and-white Warbler
21. Common Yellowthroat
22. White-throated Sparrow
23. Northern Cardinal
24. Great Crested Flycatcher (v)
25. Broad-winged Hawk
Elsewhere
26. Mourning Dove
27. Herring Gull
28. Osprey
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, broad-winged hawk, Cedar waxwing, cliff swallow, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, gray catbird, great crested flycatcher, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, osprey, ovenbird, Philadelphia vireo, pileated woodpecker, red-eyed vireo, ruby-throated hummingbird, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, yellow warbler, yellow-rumped warbler