Yellow warbler.
As solstice approaches, the photoperiod continues to lengthen. This morning, the sun rose before I did. No rush—Jack and I would take care of business and hike Beech Hill this evening.
Black-capped chickadee.
Desk work all morning. (House finch and redstart still singing, phoebes and nuthatches still sneaking about their nests.) In early afternoon, with the day hazy-bright and the temperature high, I headed out on my bicycle to do errands in town. Laughing gulls, herring gulls, and an osprey above, warblers, crows and a cardinal along the roadsides. Just a hint of wind.
After work, we hit the wooded trail.
Whereas some birds go silent in afternoon, warblers seem vocal no matter the time of day. Five of the first six birds on today’s list were warblers—and the other (the first) was a vireo. In fact, red-eyed vireos were singing all up and down the hill today. Also heard the usual crows, towhees, and thrushes. Only heard one singing alder flycatcher, one singing catbird.
At the summit, with song sparrows and yellow warblers calling, I was peering up at the phoebe nest in the eaves of Beech Nut when a large bird flew over the hut, heading southbound, toward Chickawaukie Lake, away from us. At first it looked like a gull to me, but it didn’t flap its wings much—simply soared down the hill in the direction of the lake. But the fact that it was out bound and didn’t turn or show a profile completely stumped my ability to make an ID. It was moderately dark, with relatively straight wings. Seemed to be a raptor, perhaps an osprey, but I simply couldn’t be sure. Watched it through my binoculars until it was a speck. No ID.
Iris.
A hermit thrush was calling as we returned via the lower wooded trail. And when I checked a phoebe nest I know of near Rockville Street, I thought I saw the motionless profile of a nestling.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:15 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo (voice)
2. Black-throated green warbler (voice)
3. Chestnut-sided warbler (voice)
4. American redstart (voice)
5. Ovenbird (voice)
6. Black-and-white warbler (voice)
7. Veery
8. Eastern towhee (voice)
9. American crow (voice)
10. Cedar waxwing (voice)
11. Yellow warbler
12. Eastern wood-pewee (voice)
13. American goldfinch (voice)
14. Black-capped chickadee
15. Song sparrow
16. Hawk (sp?)
17. American robin (voice)
18. Alder flycatcher (voice)
19. Gray catbird (voice)
20. Hermit thrush (voice)
21. Eastern phoebe
Elsewhere
22. House finch
23. Brown-headed cowbird
24. House sparrow
25. Herring gull
26. Laughing gull
27. Osprey
28. Northern cardinal
29. Mourning dove
30. White-breasted nuthatch
Hazy bay.
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, brown-headed cowbird, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, laughing gull, mourning dove, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, song sparrow, veery, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow warbler
