Among the many migrants moving through this windy morning were the usual early-may Yellow-rumped Warblers. Perhaps the most abundant wood-warbler, a hardy bird that nests on up through Canada, the yellow-rump is a common sight here nearly year-round. I’ve come to know their stick-dry “chip” notes well, and their warbling songs a little less well. They’re one of few species that can digest the waxy fruit of the bayberry, plenty of which grows at Beech Hill.
I must’ve seen three dozen ’rumps this morning—the males singing in their bright blue-and-yellow plumage, and the females in a lovely muted shade. Love these little flitting birds.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:15 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Ovenbird**
2. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
3. Nashville Warbler
4. Herring Gull*
5. Northern Parula
6. Black-and-white Warbler**
7. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
8. Song Sparrow**
9. Eastern Towhee
10. Gray Catbird (v)
11. Common Raven
12. Blue-headed Vireo
13. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
14. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
15. American Goldfinch (v)
16. American Crow*
17. White-throated Sparrow (v)
18. Yellow-rumped Warbler
19. Common Yellowthroat (v)
20. Tree Swallow
21. Chipping Sparrow (v)
22. Turkey Vulture
23. Savannah Sparrow
24. Black-capped Chickadee**
25. Northern Cardinal** (v)
27. Downy Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
28. Blue Jay (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, blue jay, blue-headed vireo, chipping sparrow, common raven, common yellowthroat, downy woodpecker, eastern towhee, gray catbird, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, Nashville warbler, northern cardinal, northern parula, ovenbird, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler


