Blackberries.
I can’t remember the early birds very well. I remember hearing a goldfinch’s flight song out the kitchen window. And a singing song sparrow. I don’t recall hearing the cardinal’s voice, or a chickadee, or a titmouse. I did see gulls out there.
Song sparrow.
But I found myself mired in desk work contending with an uncharacteristically ringing phone, miscellaneous minor urgencies, and a general feeling of being a circus juggler or something. Missed lunch. Didn’t ride my bike. Didn’t even retrieve my snailmail. So I figured it’d be all right to leave a little early for Beech Hill.
The sky, which had held a light overcast all day, finally cleared about the time we reached the open trail. Cool temperatures, though—right around 70 (F), if that—and a little bit of breeze. Joe and the blueberry folks were just closing down shop. A couple cars in the parking lot. Not much to report bird-wise, however. A goldfinch’s flight song (they’re everywhere, seems like), and a waxwing’s. Not quite half-way up the trail I heard the note of one of the white-throats—and then the unmistakably heartier note of a song sparrow.
Toward the top, I heard—then saw—a solitary crow. Heard the common wheep! note of a towhee. A family with kids had laid claim to Beech Nut. Their squeals and laughter likely chased away any phoebes or chipping sparrows. We headed down the other side a ways, where more blackberries had ripened and a couple catbirds chattered out the alarm. Heard the peep of an alder flycatcher and the chip of a yellowthroat.
Gull feather.
And that, dear reader, was that. Slim pickin’s. And by “slim pickin’s,” I admit that I did at least get a few mouthfuls of black- and blueberries. Jack got a couple, too.
Tonight was clear for a while, but now a thin fog has moved in. The moon’s still visible. It’s got a halo. I doubt I’ll be seeing any Perseids, though.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American goldfinch (voice)
2. Cedar waxwing (voice)
3. White-throated sparrow (voice)
4. Song sparrow
5. American crow
6. Eastern towhee (voice)
7. Alder flycatcher (voice)
8. Gray catbird
9. Common yellowthroat (voice)
Elsewhere
10. House sparrow
11. Herring gull
12. Mourning dove
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, house sparrow, mourning dove, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow
