
It was a cool and overcast morning, a kind of weather I truly love to hike in. Something about that layer of clouds above makes me feel safe, like a soft, protective ceiling. And Captain Jack, with his thick fur coat, liked the coolness.
Yesterday’s wayward solo lark appeared again. So did at least one raven—and, most surprisingly, a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I heard a jay first, just ahead of us around a leafy corner, then the hawk. It’s bright rapid cries made me stop in my tracks. I peaked around the leafy corner, and danged if the bird didn’t allow me a decent photo.
Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:08 a.m. EST (8:08 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Gray Catbird (v)
2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. American Crow* (v)
5. Common Yellowthroat (v)
6. Song Sparrow
7. Blue Jay**
8. Horned Lark
9. Yellow-rumped Warbler
10. Northern Flicker (v)
11. Common Raven
12. American Goldfinch**
13. Eastern Towhee (v)
14. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
15. Sharp-shinned Hawk
16. American Robin (v)
17. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
18. Tufted Titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
19. Mourning Dove
20. Herring Gull
21. Northern Cardinal (v)
22. White-throated Sparrow (v)
23. Eastern Bluebird
Mammals
American Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American red squirrel, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, common raven, common yellowthroat, eastern bluebird, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, horned lark, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, red-breasted nuthatch, red-eyed vireo, sharp-shinned hawk, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler