Cool again—but this time both literally and figuratively. Last night’s rain dripping from the trees, but blue approaching from the western skies. Drier air than in recent days. The fragrance of late August. And a couple dozen bird species.
Most notable, perhaps, was a turkey fly-by down on the lower wooded trail. (A hiking party on the upper trail spooked it.) Sadly, a dead turkey poult along the open trail.
Happily, a pair of ospreys (one with fish)—and a raven at the end.
Would do it again in a heartbeat.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:35 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Blue Jay (v)
2. American Crow
3. Red-eyed Vireo
4. Tufted Titmouse (v)
5. Black-capped Chickadee
6. White-breasted Nuthatch
7. American Goldfinch (v)
8. Wild Turkey
9. Brown Creeper (v)
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch
11. Gray Catbird**
12. Eastern Towhee
13. Purple Finch (v)
14. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
15. Common Yellowthroat (v)
16. Song Sparrow**
17. Cedar Waxwing
18. Cooper’s Hawk
19. Herring Gull
20. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
21. Mourning Dove*
22. Osprey
23. American Robin
24. Common Raven (v)
Elsewhere
25. Northern Cardinal (v)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown creeper, Cedar waxwing, common raven, common yellowthroat, cooper's hawk, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, osprey, pileated woodpecker, purple finch, red-breasted nuthatch, red-eyed vireo, ruby-throated hummingbird, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, wild turkey
