Another cool, sunny September morning. Easier my old dog than the recent hot, muggy morns, and all in all a very nice hike. As for birds, quite a few—including three sparrow species: Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, and Savannah Sparrow.
The latter is my favorite sparrow, thanks to its clean, natty plumage, subtle yellow eyebrow, and sweet, sibilant, insect-like song. Alas, I only heard a couple singing on the hill this past spring, and I’m afraid only one nest resulted in fledglings (whereas in years past, there’d be at least three successful nesting pairs). So it was a nice surprise to catch sight of this one.
As summer grows long in the tooth, and signs of impending migration persist, perhaps it was just passing through.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:20 a.m. EST (8:20 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 2. Blue Jay (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee** 4. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 5. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 6. White-breasted Nuthatch 7. Brown Creeper (v) 8. American Crow* (v) 9. Eastern Towhee 10. Gray Catbird 11. American Goldfinch** 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Savannah Sparrow 14. Song Sparrow 15. Northern Flicker (v) 16. Eastern Bluebird 17. Herring Gull* 18. Alder Flycatcher (v) 19. Turkey Vulture 20. Cedar Waxwing 21. Tufted Titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
22. Chipping Sparrow
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A cool, cloudless morning greeted dog and me as we headed up the wooded trail. By “cool,” I mean mid- to upper-50s (F). But once we hit the open fields, the sun warmed us up a bit—and, considering his thick coat, Jack didn’t much mind the little chill.
Birds were about, and moving. Notable, today, were the three flycatchers that showed up. In the woods, a wood-pewee perched on a snag and sang, occasionally making a quick flight to catch a fly. Nearing the summit, I caught sight of a young Alder Flycatcher (a species that prefers open areas)—and, nearby, a Least Flycatcher.
Between those three species and the waxwings that perched high in the summit spruce grove and dined on a fly hatch, the population of flies dipped quite a bit today.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:20 a.m. EST (8:20 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch** 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. Blue Jay (v) 4. Downy Woodpecker (v) 5. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 6. American Goldfinch 7. Eastern Wood-pewee 8. Tufted Titmouse (v) 9. Black-and-white Warbler 10. Gray Catbird** 11. Eastern Towhee 12. Cedar Waxwing 13. Alder Flycatcher 14. Song Sparrow 15. American Crow* (v) 16. Veery (v) 17. Common Yellowthroat 18. American Robin 19. Turkey Vulture 20. Northern Flicker (v) 21. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 22. Least Flycatcher
Elsewhere
23. Herring Gull 24. Belted Kingfisher
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
My hike with dog commenced on this cool morning—“cool” in both senses of the word—with a stout breeze and near-cloudless skies. Not as many species as yesterday, but an interesting assortment. Many tits, a juvie thrush, and a photographic glimpse of a Pileated Woodpecker.
Tomorrow’s supposed to be a similar day, weather wise.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:23 a.m. EST (8:23 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Tufted Titmouse 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. American Goldfinch 4. Eastern Wood-pewee 5. White-breasted Nuthatch 6. Blue Jay 7. American Crow 8. Downy Woodpecker 9. Pileated Woodpecker 10. Common Yellowthroat 11. Song Sparrow 12. Cedar Waxwing 13. Turkey Vulture 14. Gray Catbird 15. Eastern Towhee 16. Hermit Thrush
Elsewhere
17. Northern Cardinal (v) 18. Mourning Dove 19. Herring Gull 20. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
