Yellow-rumped warbler.
I took advantage of a slumbering dog to stay in bed later than any recent morning I can remember. Puttered around a bit before heading for the hill.
On the way, scores of small brown birds flitted from the roadside in front of us, as if making way for our passage. Yellow-rumped warblers and sparrows and juncos, I would imagine. There were perhaps a hundred in all, and I marveled at their ability to flush and zip safely away from the fast approaching vehicle. Although I half-expected it, none met the grille. The only explanation I can think of is some evolutionary adaptation—that they’ve become wise to the danger of cars.
Eastern slope.
The Beech Hill Road parking lot was empty. I wasn’t surprised, considering the temperature (somewhere in the upper 30s (F), I’d guess) and the wind (gusting to 20 or 30 miles an hour, would be my estimate). At least I dressed warmly enough. And brought gloves.
Not a cloud in the sky. As soon as we emerged from the pickup, I heard a couple chickadees and a jay. Before we’d gone a hundred yards, I heard the voice of a robin and the chips of the seemingly ever-present ‘rumps. Coming up into the open slope, the wind whipped loudly, numbing my ears in more ways than one. I put my hood up. A song sparrow fluttered away into the brush.
Rounding the first wide curve, I spotted a lone sparrow dashing up the trail ahead of us. This seemed like savannah sparrow behavior, to me. I finally got a good look and confirmed the ID.
Somewhere in the great noise of the cold wind, I heard the scrap of the caw of a crow. Otherwise, only a song sparrow, a white-throat, and a yellow-rump at the summit—all lurking in tangles of brush, out of the wind. The only bird I saw in flight was a single ‘rump, flapping its little wings like crazy, bouncing off to the south.
Back at the parking lot, a collection of juncos tittered and flittered in the stunningly colorful trees.
Some time later—out back of my place and much to my surprise—I heard the loud clucks of a wild turkey.
Today I learned that crows aren’t the only birds around here to have adapted to having an understanding of the limits of the danger of vehicular traffic along the roadways.
Autumn oak down the open trail.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 9:30 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
2. Blue jay (voice)
3. American robin (voice)
4. Yell0w-rumped warbler
5. White-throated sparrow
6. Song sparrow
7. Savannah sparrow
8. American crow (voice)
9. Dark-eyed junco
Elsewhere
10. Tufted titmouse
11. Wild turkey
Distant Monhegan.
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, dark-eyed junco, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-throated sparrow, wild turkey, yellow-rumped warbler
