I love wood-pewees. They might be plain little birds—inconspicuous forest flycatchers that perch about half-way up the understory, ready to flit from their snag to nab a mosquito or other winged insect—but they have, to me anyway, an irresistible song.
Four long, whistled phrases, separated by lingering pauses. The first three are identical, ending in an quizzical upward inflection. The fourth ends a downward slide: “It is what it is.” The whole series takes the better part of a minute to complete.
The song of a pewee is a poignant, plaintive thing. It makes me feel nostalgic for long-ago seasons past.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:15 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. American Goldfinch (v) 3. Common Yellowthroat 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler 5. Ovenbird** (v) 6. Gray Catbird** 7. American Redstart* (v) 8. Northern Parula* (v) 9. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 10. Eastern Wood-pewee* 11. Blue Jay (v) 12. Eastern Towhee** 13. Alder Flycatcher 14. Yellow Warbler* 15. American Crow* 16. Veery (v) 17. Wood Thrush (v) 18. Scarlet Tanager* (v) 19. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 20. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 21. Field Sparrow (v) 22. Song Sparrow 23. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 24. Tree Swallow 25. Common Raven 26. Eastern Phoebe* 27. Tufted Titmouse (v) 28. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 29. Nashville Warbler 30. American Robin* (v) 31. Hermit Thrush (v) 32. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 33. Least Flycatcher (v) 34. Chipping Sparrow* (v) 35. Northern Cardinal* (v)
Elsewhere
36. House Finch 37. Mourning Dove
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Thick fog early. Again I didn’t expect much in the way of bird activity—or photos. Again I was wrong.
In fact, I had a first-of-year Blackpoll Warbler. Heard the voice of a Wilson’s Warbler for the first time (at least the first time I can remember). At home, I heard/spied a Tennessee Warbler—first in years.
Just an all around great birding day. Thanks, Nature.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin (v) 2. Ovenbird** 3. Gray Catbird** 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 5. Veery** 6. Scarlet Tanager (v) 7. Hairy Woodpecker 8. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 9. Black-and-white Warbler 10. Common Yellowthroat** 11. Blackpoll Warbler† 12. Eastern Towhee 13. Red-eyed Vireo** 14. Tufted Titmouse* (v) 15. American Redstart 16. American Goldfinch (v) 17. American Crow* 18. Yellow Warbler 19. Field Sparrow 20. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 21. Least Flycatcher 22. Song Sparrow** (v) 23. Common Raven 24. Wilson’s Warbler 25. Chipping Sparrow* 26. Alder Flycatcher (v) 27. Tree Swallow 28. Northern Parula (v) 29. Hermit Thrush (v) 30. Wood Thrush (v) 31. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 32. Blue Jay (v) 33. Ruffed Grouse (drumming) 34. Northern Cardinal* (v) 35. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 36. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 37. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
Elsewhere
38. House Finch 39. Tennessee Warbler† 39. House Sparrow (v) 40. Osprey 41. Mallard 42. Herring Gull
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year bird
Sunny morn. Not too chilly, not too warm. Plenty of birds about also. Quiet and furtive enough to make things interesting—but quick enough to deny me several exquisite photos.
Still I got a couple.
A good day for dog and me.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:15 a.m., I hiked all trails.
