American redstart (first-year male).
Do cicadas wait for a warm night to emerge out into the world? The reason I ask: last night was pretty warm, and this morning—no matter that it’s only the 25th of May—I heard at least a half-dozen cicadas singing at Beech Hill. Their chorus seemed so early and so drawn, and the temperature so sweltering, that I ended up feeling rather out-of-synch all day.
Toad.
Also, before coming upon a single photogenic bird on the hill, I came upon a photogenic toad. The first amphibian I’ve seen up there (though of course I’ve listened to their voices). And soon after, I heard a small vee of Canada geese fly over. Some days just unfold a little oddly.
Mosquitoes hovered and hummed along the shady wooded trails. Flies and bees swarmed and buzzed. Crickets were chirping all over the place. And then, of course, the cicadas. I thought I might’ve heard a hummingbird at one point, but I couldn’t be sure. I thought I heard a couple offbeat warblers, too, but I just couldn’t get a good look—or even a decent listen.
Mourning dove.
Redstart, rose-breasted grosbeak, alder flycatcher, and catbird all came impressively near while I was standing still, but I only got decent photos of the redstart. About two-thirds of the way along the upper wooded trail, I flushed another woodcock—second in three days (and in about the same area)—and feel sure it was a female leading hatchlings. (Last year, I came upon a brood on 22 May.) I even spent about five minutes staring into the understory looking for the chicks. Their camouflage, however, is nothing short of perfect.
All five sparrows again. All common warblers. An actual photo of a blue jay for a change. A crow flying over in the distance.
On our return home, Jack was some thirsty, and my sweat-soaked shirt clung like a second skin. Later, I took my usual bicycle trip and saw plenty of blackbirds—grackles and starlings. But the most memorable part of the ride? A fast, sunny stretch where I was followed from above by a vocal flock of laughing gulls.
Blue jay.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7 a.m., I walked all trails.
1. Ovenbird (voice)
2. American robin (voice)
3. Common yellowthroat
4. Red-eyed vireo
5. American redstart
6. Chestnut-sided warbler
7. Black-and-white warbler (voice)
8. Rose-breasted grosbeak
9. Black-throated green warbler (voice)
10. Mourning dove
11. Alder flycatcher
12. Veery
13. Black-capped chickadee
14. Tufted titmouse
15. Gray catbird
16. Canada goose (voice)
17. American woodcock
18. Song sparrow
19. Field sparrow
20. Nashville warbler (voice)
21. Tree swallow
22. Eastern phoebe
23. Cedar waxwing
24. Savannah sparrow
25. American crow
26. American goldfinch
27. Yellow warbler (voice)
28. Hermit thrush (voice)
29. Blue jay
30. White-throated sparrow (voice)
31. Chipping sparrow (voice)
32. Tufted titmouse
33. Canada warbler (voice)
34. Black-throated blue warbler (voice)
Esewhere
35. Herring gull
36. European starling
37. Northern cardinal
38. House finch
39. Laughing gull
40. Common grackle
Beech Hill iris.
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, American woodcock, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated blue warbler, black-throated green warbler, blue jay, Canada goose, Canada warbler, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common grackle, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, European starling, field sparrow, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, laughing gull, mourning dove, Nashville warbler, northern cardinal, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, rose-breasted grosbeak, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, veery, white-throated sparrow, yellow warbler
