A chillier morning than yesterday’s—upper 40s (F). A bit “nipply,” as they say around here. But migration has begun, and the overnight winds were more or less favorable, so I anticipated some kind of minor excitement.
But it was also overcast and breezy, and things were quiet at first.
Then, over the course of my hike with dog, a couple dozen species showed up (and/or sounded off). Notable were another passel of flickers, a little wave of yellow-rumps, a lovely young Veery, a Mourning Dove, and an Osprey and a solitary Ruby-throated Hummingbird in overflight near the summit of the hill.
Looks like tomorrow will also prove promising—and chances of rain over the following few days, so who knows?
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:20 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* 2. Hermit Thrush 3. Blue Jay (v) 4. Gray Catbird 5. American Goldfinch (v) 6. Purple Finch (v) 7. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 8. Northern Flicker** 9. Mourning Dove 10. Song Sparrow 11. Eastern Towhee 12. Black-capped Chickadee 13. Common Yellowthroat 14. Tufted Titmouse (v) 15. Downy Woodpecker 16. Brown Creeper 17. Red-eyed Vireo 18. American Robin* 19. Cedar Waxwing 20. Yellow-rumped Warbler 21. Veery 22. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 23. Savannah Sparrow 24. Osprey 25. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
Elsewhere
26. Carolina Wren (v) 27. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A chilly morning (low 50s (F)), a cloudless morning (other than a line of clouds far out in the bay), with a stout gusty breeze. I had no expectations, but I thought of the possibility of some interesting migrating birds.
As it happened, there were birds of interest—notably a random Blackpoll Warbler up in the greenery between the woods and open fields—but mostly the usual suspects. Along with a couple “big birds” in flight (Turkey Vulture and Common Raven).
Blackpoll Warbler.
Twenty-four species, though not many numbers of each. Those numbers will increase, though. Looking forward to it.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:37 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Tufted Titmouse 2. Northern Flicker 3. Cedar Waxwing 4. Black-capped Chickadee* 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Gray Catbird 7. American Crow* 8. Blackpoll Warbler 9. Hermit Thrush 10. Blue Jay (v) 11. Yellow-rumped Warbler 12. Common Yellowthroat (v) 13. American Goldfinch (v) 14. Eastern Phoebe 15. Song Sparrow 16. Savannah Sparrow 17. Eastern Bluebird 18. Common Raven 19. American Robin 20. Turkey Vulture 21. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 22. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 23. Downy Woodpecker (v) 24. Brown Creeper (v)
Elsewhere
25. Carolina Wren (v) 26. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Rained overnight, dawned mostly clear. Still damp and dewy, but bright angular sunlight filtering through the trees—decided to head up one of the wooded trails. Settled on the upper one.
Upper trail was a little quiet, summit was pretty quiet, still ID’d a number of the usual suspects. Then, returning via the lower wooded trail, things kind of broke loose: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, even a young Baltimore Oriole in the still-leafy trees. Kept me busy trying to grab photos of all the flitting critters up there in the canopy.
Early fall migration is one of the most fun birding experiences. You never know what might appear. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:22 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Northern Flicker 2. American Crow* 3. Eastern Towhee 4. Gray Catbird** 5. American Goldfinch (v) 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. American Robin 8. Downy Woodpecker (v) 9. Common Yellowthroat 10. Cedar Waxwing 11. Song Sparrow 12. Blue Jay (v) 13. Yellow-rumped Warbler 14. White-breasted Nuthatch 15. Red-bellied Woodpecker 16. Red-eyed Vireo 17. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 18. Baltimore Oriole
