American crow.
Just another gorgeous fall day. I ended up at my desk for most of the first two-thirds of it (with Jack napping next to me), and then I had a dental appointment. Returning from that, driving along Old County Road, I saw a pileated woodpecker flapping between two trees, its white wing patches flashing in the mid-afternoon sun. Then I took a nice fast bike ride—during which I heard a tufted titmouse giving forth a textbook (iPad?) example of a titmouse’s spring love song.
Southwest sky.
Then, late in the day, we hit the hill.
Crow in the distance. Junco flitting among the low trees coming up the trail. Yellow-rumps—many still, chipping. A robin’s voice. A jay. Suddenly, a flicker. A chickadee. A few humans coming up and down the trail. But most noteworthy was how the sunny day had become, abruptly, overcast. Just as we started up the hill. A blanket of clouds had begun moving (as forecast) up the coast and had just about reached the setting sun by the time we commenced our ascent. Right at the end of it, the day completely changed.
The wind calmed from when I was out cycling. The daylight dimmed. Birds grew quiet—emitting only chips and other solo notes. I beheld a landscape overcome by ochre and yellow-orange. I learned today that at the end of the third week of October, the coastal Maine landscape goes a dark yellow. And yet, with only one or two early morning frosts yet, you can still hear the chirp of a cricket.
Coming back down the hill, I spied a sparrow hopping ahead of dog and me on the trail. A song sparrow. And I heard the voice of a goldfinch. And a hairy woodpecker.
Song sparrow.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American crow
2. Dark-eyed junco
3. Yellow-rumped warbler
4. White-throated sparrow (voice)
5. American robin
6. Blue jay (voice)
7. Northern flicker (voice)
8. Black-capped chickadee
9. Song sparrow
10. American goldfinch (voice)
11. Hairy woodpecker (voice)
Elsewhere
12. Tufted titmouse
13. Northern cardinal
14. Herring gull
15. Pileated woodpecker
16. Rock pigeon
Sunset.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, dark-eyed junco, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, northern cardinal, northern flicker, pileated woodpecker, rock pigeon, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
