Broad-winged hawk.
A breeze kicked up early this morning, one I might even have categorized as a wind by the time we reached Beech Hill, Jack and I. This—and doubtless other factors—conjured up quite a different birding expedition than yesterday’s.
Black-capped chickadee.
All told, I listed the usual suspects, plus three warblers. Found a couple feathers on the trails. And that was about it. Then again, the lack wacky overflights or odd birdsong gave me a chance to ruminate while ascending the wooded section. In fact, I got to thinking: when they first come up this wonderful forested hillside, which hikers might take the upper trail and which the lower? The question kept me occupied for most of the ascent.
If I recall correctly, on my first ascent several years ago, I chose the lower wooded trail. See, from the parking lot, after you hike a couple hundred yards in and around, you reach a T and have to choose. Left or right. I chose right. To the left, to the southwest, the trail appears to rise a bit among the trees; to the right, to the northeast, it seems to dip down into a shadowy green glade. And this morning I decided that I first took the lower trail because it seemed to lead to something new and mysterious—to not so much a clear upward path, but rather the promise of more of a circuitous route to the summit of the hill. A longer, murkier, wilder, and (to me) more enticing route.
Feather on the trail.
Since I hike here every day, I’m aware that some folks take the upper trail and some prefer the lower. It’s just a matter of taste. Or is it? I got thinking—who, when first walking this path, decides to turn left, to take the upper trail? And I concluded: the people more interested in reaching their destination, the folks who want to get to the top of the hill. The determined ones, the goal-seekers—those who plot and plan, who keep and hold a mission. Who accomplish things. Who like to laugh and party.
And who decides to turn right? The more leisurely folks. The experiencers, the browsers. Those who spend time actually reading the text on a website instead of simply getting what they want and ditching the joint. Those who might take a day off simply to read a novel on their back decks in the shade.
Those were my conclusions, at least. No doubt I’m full of shit.
But, hey, I guess it was just that kind of morning.
Red-eyed vireo and acorns.
Nowadays, of course, I ascend via the upper trail because of my familiarity with the light and the birds and my chances of capturing decent photos, and I return via the lower trail because of its length and how its easier on my bones. And this morning, by the time we’d hit the lower trail on our way back down, I’d counted only eighteen species on the hill—a little more than half of yesterday’s total. But then I heard the song of the resident hermit thrush. And then I heard the quay! notes of a red-eyed vireo.
The vireo was near. In fact, one often sings right there—but this one was nearer and might’ve offered a decent photograph. So we stopped, dog and I, and I lifted my camera and was shifting and dipping and leaning in for a good angle, when suddenly a large bird took flight from a tree branch even nearer me, not very many yards away. A hawk. Which—duh—this vireo had been hollering at.
Happy to report the hawk flew to a limb not too terribly far off, so I managed to get an ID (broad-winged) and a half-way decent photo.
Guess it was just that kind of morning.
Turkey down.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:15 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo
2. American goldfinch (voice)
3. American crow (voice)
4. Black-capped chickadee
5. White-breasted nuthatch (voice)
6. Eastern towhee
7. Common yellowthroat
8. Cedar waxwing
9. White-throated sparrow
10. Song sparrow (voice)
11. Yellow-rumped warbler
12. Savannah sparrow
13. Blue jay
14. Gray catbird (voice)
15. Tufted titmouse (voice)
16. Black-and-white warbler
17. Hairy woodpecker
18. Eastern phoebe
19. Hermit thrush (voice)
20. Broad-winged hawk
Elsewhere
21. Herring gull
22. Northern cardinal
Caterpillar breakfast (savannah sparrows).
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, broad-winged hawk, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, gray catbird, hairy woodpecker, hermit thrush, northern cardinal, red-eyed vireo, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
