Monarch butterfly.
What a crazy day. Up early, but a little rain convinced me not to hike Beech Hill first thing as usual. And then of course I got exceptionally busy—Monday-busy—at my desk. And then got the shocking news that a generous community friend had passed away unexpectedly last night. Just really strange and odd, this day.
During my bicycle ride in mid-afternoon, I saw the local mockingbird flapping up and over Route 1 right near Wal-Mart. So weird.
Hermit thrush.
Then, finally, at 5:15 p.m., dog and I headed off to Beech Hill. Turns out that must be about the worst time of day to go birding. It took a few hundred yards before we even heard a single species—a cedar waxwing—and another two or three hundred yards to hear the second (black-capped chickadee). Turns out chickadees, goldfinches, and waxwings were just about everywhere. Other birds? Not so much.
But the craziest moments came as we climbed the upper wooded trail. No birds to speak of—but suddenly I heard a sort of loud, low raspy-but-musical note nearby. Jack heard it, too. We both froze. For a good minute or so. Nothing more. I’d not heard anything quite like it. Was it a bird? Some other critter? The wind scraping tree branches against each other?
Never mind then. We continued on up.
But within just a few minutes, we heard an animal noise coming from down behind us. Or to the east of us along the trail. I couldn’t be sure. But it was definitely an animal noise—a mammal noise. It sounded like a sort of upward-inflected snort or bark, and then a riveting, scary-sounding growl. Or at least it seemed like a growl to me. Whatever was making this sound was hunkered down in a thicket about fifty feet off the trail. Jack and I didn’t stick around to find out if it’d reveal itself. We continued on up the trail at just a little quicker pace than before.
Eastern chipmunk.
Seriously, I’d never before heard that sound. I imagined, first of all, that it was a mountain lion. (No doubt because of the sighting in nearby Owls Head a few days ago.) Then I thought, no, it’s not a cat—could it be a coyote mom protecting cubs? Then I got to thinking it might be a rabid raccoon or other common critter. I have to say, in fact, it sounded to me like some kind of wild boar.
It sounded like a monster, frankly. Scary. The growl sounded again behind us. I couldn’t tell if it was getting nearer. We hurried on up the trail.
The rest of the day proved relatively uneventful. Well, other than all the dragonflies and butterflies (including a number of monarchs). And a random great crested flycatcher call. And the hermit thrush I saw. And the broad-winged hawk that circled us near the end of the lower wooded trail. Those guys are really quite comfortable down low under the canopy. Very secretive and silent. I was impressed.
And I couldn’t help but think what a monster the hawk must seem to be to the meeker residents of the hillside.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:15 p.m., I walked all trails.
1. Cedar waxwing
2. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
3. American goldfinch
4. American crow (voice)
5. Eastern towhee (voice)
6. Savannah sparrow
7. American robin (voice)
8. Blue jay (voice)
9. Great crested flycatcher (voice)
10. Hermit thrush
11. Mourning dove (voice)
12. Gray catbird
13. Herring gull
14. Common yellowthroat (voice)
15. Broad-winged hawk
Elsewhere
16. House sparrow
17. Northern cardinal
18. Northern mockingbird
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, broad-winged hawk, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, gray catbird, great crested flycatcher, hermit thrush, herring gull, house sparrow, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, savannah sparrow
