Cool and clear, as yesterday, but breezier this morning. Dog and I met up with dog and human friends for our hike, which was a fun thing. I might not have paid as close attention to the birds as usual, but I did end up with a lot of species on my list—and got a nice close photo of a Chipping Sparrow.
Chippies nest at the summit and down by Beech Hill Road. They’re one of a half-dozen sparrows I encounter regularly on the hill, but they don’t seem as bothered by humans as most. (Although Savannah Sparrows will come near once they’ve got an active nest.) They’re wee little birds, and I like ’em a lot.
Another noteworthy occurrence: I watched a catbird chase a red squirrel down from a tree trunk. Never seen that before. But every day I see things I’ve never seen before.
Rain overnight. We shall see how that changes things in the morning.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6:18 p.m. sun time (7:18 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch**
2. Red-eyed Vireo
3. Ovenbird**
4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
5. American Redstart** (v)
6. Blue Jay
7. Gray Catbird**
8. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
9. Black-and-white Warbler (v)
10. Brown Creeper
11. Veery
12. Eastern Towhee
13. Wood Thrush (v)
14. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
15. American Goldfinch (v)
16. Tufted Titmouse (v)
17. Chestnut-sided Warbler**
18. Scarlet Tanager (v)
19. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
20. Common Yellowthroat (v)
21. Yellow Warbler (v)
22. Field Sparrow (v)
23. Song Sparrow**
24. American Robin (v)
25. Chipping Sparrow
26. American Crow*
27. Red-winged Blackbird (v)
28. Northern Cardinal (v)
29. Eastern Bluebird
30. Tree Swallow
31. Eastern Phoebe
Elsewhere
32. Wild Turkey
33. Herring Gull
34. Pileated Woodpecker
Mammals
American Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American red squirrel, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, blue jay, brown creeper, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common yellowthroat, eastern bluebird, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, field sparrow, gray catbird, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, northern cardinal, ovenbird, pileated woodpecker, red-eyed vireo, red-winged blackbird, scarlet tanager, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, veery, white-breasted nuthatch, wild turkey, wood thrush, yellow warbler
