American robins.
We’ve got robins. Robins everywhere, robins all over the place. They started showing up in small numbers a week or two ago, then in the past few days their numbers began to increase. Saw a large flock at Beech Hill yesterday, and there they were again this afternoon as the day-long ceiling of clouds began to move away.
Coastal hills.
I’ve noticed in the past couple years that American robins, at this time of year, seem to like to hang out in little groves of staghorn sumac—at least at Beech Hill they do. There’s a large cluster along the wooded trail where they invariably appear, and today I watched a flock dining on a sumac down the southern slope off the open trail. Technically, they’re American robins, but that’s a continental moniker, because these birds are likely Canadian nesters stopping off on their way back north. They don’t sing—unlike our local house finch, chickadee, or titmouse—but rather emit an occasional high-pitched squee!
And they weren’t alone on the hill today. I saw crows and a gull, and I heard the voices of goldfinch, mourning dove, and pileated woodpecker. Also the chattering of chickadees. And at home this morning, for the first time in months, I heard the jeers of jays.
And in two-three weeks, the woodcocks will return—my personal sign of spring.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American crow
2. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
3. American robin
4. American goldfinch (voice)
5. Mourning dove (voice)
6. Pileated woodpecker (voice)
7. Herring gull
Elsewhere
8. Tufted titmouse
9. House finch
10. Blue jay
11. Ring-billed gull
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, pileated woodpecker, ring-billed gull, tufted titmouse
