Beech Nut.
Late last night thunderstorms blew through. We seemed to get only the eastern fringe here on the shore, but even so the western sky delivered a dramatic light show. Thunder rumbled and cracked. And intermittent bursts of hail clattered against the back windows. I awoke this morning to a soggy world.
Chestnut-sided warbler.
And a relatively chilly one. The sun emerged a time or two in morning—as did the resident cardinal, a song sparrow, a catbird—but great, slate-blue clouds loomed in the west and the radio kept blasting weather alerts for violent storms in other parts of the state. And he clouds continued their peripheral looming as I spent about three hours at midday scrambling around to meet the FedEx pickup deadline. Got back to find it had rained at my place, but apparently not too heavily.
By the time Jack and I pulled into the Rockville Street parking lot, the sun had actually emerged, and the world had brightened. By the time we reached the summit, Beech Nut was cloaked in moving wisps of fog—much like yesterday. Except it was a lot chillier up there.
Not many birds to report today. Not even a dozen on the hill—although I did run into a solitary chestnut-sided warbler chipping at us from just beyond the ripening blackberry brambles. It’s funny how scarce chestnut-sides seem at this time of year when I know there are scores—if not hundreds—up there. Same with ovenbirds (I haven’t listed one of those in weeks) and other warblers. I did happen to hear a hermit thrush and a veery in quick succession.
Blackberries.
Elsewhere, not much. Although while standing out in the parking lot, I heard the cries of a laughing gull.
Tonight it’s about 60 degrees (F) out, is all. And you can hear the patter of rainwater dripping from the trees. Not altogether unpleasant, actually. I shall sleep well.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m, I hiked the wooded trails.
1. Black-capped chickadee
2. Cedar waxwing
3. American crow
4. Eastern towhee
5. American goldfinch
6. Red-eyed vireo
7. Gray catbird
8. Chestnut-sided warbler
9. Hermit thrush
10. Veery
11. Eastern phoebe
Elsewhere
12. Northern cardinal
13. Song sparrow
14. House sparrow
15. Herring gull
16. Laughing gull
17. Mourning dove
Rose Hips.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house sparrow, laughing gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, red-eyed vireo, song sparrow, veery
