Rained overnight, overcast this morning, and wet trails greeted dog and me as we headed up, a bit later than usual. Nobody else around at first. Plenty of birds, though, including most all the usual suspects.
Windy at the summit, small birds in the trees and large ones in the air. Among the large ones was an unseen raven, at least three vultures, and a Red-shouldered Hawk carrying what sure looked like a red squirrel. Also ran into some friendly acquaintances, which was nice
Alas, in the woods where the tanager sang the past couple days—nothing. I hope against hope we didn’t scare it off yesterday.
Best poser of the day: a very still Black-and-white Warbler, carrying food back to what is surely a nest full of fledglings.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:47 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo** (v) 2. Ovenbird 3. Song Sparrow** 4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 5. Eastern Phoebe** 6. American Crow* 7. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 8. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (v) 9. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 10. American Redstart (v) 11. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 12. American Goldfinch** (v) 13. Cedar Waxwing 14. Black-and-white Warbler 15. Alder Flycatcher 16. Common Raven (v) 17. Yellow Warbler (v) 18. Eastern Towhee 19. Gray Catbird 20. Field Sparrow (v) 21. Purple Finch (v) 22. Chipping Sparrow 23. Prairie Warbler (v) 24. Common Yellowthroat (v) 25. Turkey Vulture 26. Red-shouldered Hawk 27. House Wren (v) 28. Tree Swallow 29. Hermit Thrush (v) 30. Veery
Elsewhere
31. Mourning Dove 32. Herring Gull 33. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Rained early, but it moved on, so dog and I hit the trailhead by about mid-morning. Drippy about 60° (F), with plenty of mosquitoes (which, interestingly, have seemed most successful in biting me on the neck).
More birds than I imagined—including a first-of-year Barred Owl letting go with a brief but unmistakable hoot from down on the southern wood edge. Also a raven. A sapsucker down in the trees. And in perhaps the funnest moment, the discovery of a couple of blue flag irises—first of year.
Should be clearing up tomorrow, election day. Will hike early then ride my bicycle up to the town office to vote.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 9:39 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Ovenbird 2. Red-eyed Vireo 3. Eastern Phoebe 4. Black-throated Green Warbler 5. Common Yellowthroat 6. Veery 7. American Goldfinch 8. American Redstart 9. Gray Catbird 10. Chestnut-sided Warbler 11. Alder Flycatcher 12. Tufted Titmouse 13. Eastern Towhee 14. Yellow Warbler 15. Song Sparrow 16. American Crow 17. Prairie Warbler 18. Purple Finch 19. Cedar Waxwing 20. Tree Swallow 21. Common Raven 22. American Robin 23. House Wren 24. Blue Jay 25. Field Sparrow 26. Barred Owl† 27. Pileated Woodpecker 28. Black-capped Chickadee 29. Hermit Thrush 30. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (v)
Elsewhere
31. Northern Parula (v) 32. European Starling 33. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A day much like yesterday, but mostly cloudy and maybe a bit breezier. About the same number of bird species, a nice feeling of being out and about on the surface of our planet, and a generally fun time for dog and me.
No outlandish surprises, true—but I liked getting a good look at my favorite sparrow on my favorite coastal hill.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:08 a.m., I hiked most trails.
