Common yellowthroat (female).
Today dawned cloudy and remained so all day. This morning I heard the chips of a cardinal out back, heard the squawkings of herring gulls, and spotted a house finch on a wire. Not long after breakfast, I heard a crazy cacophony of crows hollering at something from right out in the dooryard. I glanced out, saw then yelling down at something, ran upstairs for my camera, got a few not-so-great crow photos, and never did see what they were hollaring at.
American crow.
I’ve learned to pay attention to a hollering horde crows. I’ve seen them haranguing numerous red-tailed hawks, other hawks, an oblivious bald eagle one time, ravens. I’ve seen them cursing down at a fox and cats. Invariably, their shouting grabs my attention. Sorry I missed the object of their shouts this morning.
Mid-month, invoice day—which meant I was crazy-glued to my desk for most of it. But when I looked at the weather radar online, I saw a huge mass of rain approaching and figured dog and I ought to grab a Beech Hike when we could, so we grabbed one a little early. Gray skies, not much wind, but a few nice birds. Beginning with the coos of a mourning dove—and of course the invariable bubbling of the voices of the goldfinches that seem ever-present at this time of year.
I heard a single yellow warbler’s song, which was noteworthy. The usual towhees, crows, waxwings. Over the hill where the blackberries are ripening, I heard catbirds and a yellowthroat. Then I got a good look at one of the former; it also got a good look at me.
Song sparrow and phoebe near Beech Nut. (The phoebes, long gone from their nest in the eaves, are still hanging around.) And returning through the brushy lower trail, Jack and I found ourselves suddenly accosted by a fearless female yellowthroat. She was so close I wasn’t sure I could focus, but somehow I manages a couple nice shots.
Gray catbird.
Just before we reached the pickup, I heard a tumult—another angry chorus of crows coming from up the hill somewhere. Again, alas, I was in no position to observe the object of their disdain.
Sure enough, not long after our return, it began to rain. And it’s raining still. A steady rain. Rain pattering with a gentle, soothing sound.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American goldfinch
2. Mourning dove (voice)
3. Yellow warbler (voice)
4. Eastern towhee (voice)
5. American crow
6. Cedar waxwing
7. Gray catbird
8. Song sparrow
9. Eastern phoebe
10. Common raven
11. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
12. Common yellowthroat
Elsewhere
13. Northern cardinal
14. Herring gull
15. House finch
16. Rock pigeon
Blackberries.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, rock pigeon, song sparrow, yellow warbler
