Beech Nut.
A third day of mostly indoor desk work, thanks to remnant rain and overcast. Coincidentally, about the time Jack and I headed out for Beech Hill, the clouds abruptly cleared away. And the air, while damp, felt warmer, despite a sudden, insistent wind.
En route along Chickawaukie Lake, I spotted a tight-packed mat of American coots floating far offshore. They keep together in winter there also, all milling around like a crowd at a cocktail party. Although they stick together, one will occasionally get picked off by an eagle.
Chickawaukie Lake.
At the hill I first saw crows flapping around on the South Street slope (where they tend to hang out in fall, I’ve noticed). Then I heard the chip! of a yellow-rump—and soon was watching a pair of them fly high over the hillside, south-bound. About half-way up the hill, I thought I heard the croak of a raven somewhere in the wind, but it was only a single call, and I couldn’t be sure. I did hear crows.
At the summit, we spooked at least three sparrows. Song sparrows, no doubt. They’re shy these days, quickly flitting off into thick brush. The sun was just setting behind the Rockville Ridge, and the sky glowed in muted, pastel colors. Then I heard ravens again, and this time I also spotted them—a pair of ’em sailing around above the crow slope. Nice.
Returning, coming around the long curve, I spotted a solitary bird soaring motionless in the wind above us. At first I thought it one of the ravens, but then I saw the sharp arc of its wings, its long tail, its distinctive shape. A falcon. A peregrine falcon. I scrambled to grab a photo but couldn’t manage good focus. Still exciting. I’m pretty sure that’s the first peregrine I’ve seen up there. Certainly out of the ordinary.
Peregrine falcon.
Back at the base of the hill, in the little wooded area, I somehow caught the slight sounds of chickadees in the trees. I figured that’d be a nice last bird on today’s list. And then, as we entered a muddy curve near the parking lot, we flushed a woodcock.
Tonight, all remnant haze has blown away in the rushing wind, and the sky is black, and the stars are bright, and Jupiter hangs high over everything.
(21 October 2011: edited to add my coot sighting.)
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American crow
2. Yellow-rumped warbler
3. Song sparrow
4. Common raven
5. Peregrine falcon
6. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
7. American woodcock
Elsewhere
8. Herring gull
9. Ring-billed gull
10. European starling
11. American coot
Beech Nut.
Tags: American crow, American woodcock, black-capped chickadee, common raven, European starling, herring gull, peregrine falcon, ring-billed gull, song sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
