Rained overnight, and the damp understory made me happy (and a little wet and muddy). Fewer ticks than yesterday (one on Jack), but a nice variety of species.
Aside from the usual—a random Swamp Sparrow. Near the summit, in the brushy barrens. First swamp, then Savannah, then song (then, soon after, towhee). Four sparrows, three corvids, two woodpeckers, two nuthatches, two tits (chickadee, titmouse), and a really nice sky.
Note: Full fall color will be later this year on account of global warming.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:10 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 2. American Crow* 3. Tufted Titmouse 4. Golden-crowned Kinglet (v) 5. Northern Flicker (v) 6. Black-capped Chickadee* 7. Yellow-rumped Warbler 8. American Robin (v) 9. Hairy Woodpecker 10. Brown Creeper (v) 11. American Goldfinch (v) 12. Gray Catbird 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 14. Purple Finch (v) 15. White-throated Sparrow* (v) 16. Swamp Sparrow 17. Savannah Sparrow 18. Song Sparrow 19. Blue Jay (v) 20. Eastern Towhee (v) 21. Eastern Phoebe 22. Common Raven (v) 23. Northern Cardinal** (v)
Elsewhere
24. Carolina Wren 25. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A lovely, cool, overcast morning. Dog and I took the main trail, so I could perhaps grab a decent bird photo or two despite the dimness. Was a bit later than usual, but the direction of the breeze seemed positive. Fewer birds than usual—except for Yellow-rumped Warblers. (They’re everywhere!)
Our hike was one of whispers: the whisper of the breeze in the trees of the wooded trail; the subtle whispering voices of the birds in the greenery; my own whispering voice as I announced to my GoPro the species I heard or saw.
Dipped on one ID—a little flock of finchy birds in flight. (Might’ve been crossbills, not sure.) But I sure do love an overcast day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:14 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* 2. Blue Jay 3. White-throated Sparrow (v) 4. Eastern Phoebe 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. Yellow-rumped Warbler 7. Red-breasted Nuthatch 8. Purple Finch (v) 9. Northern Flicker 10. Song Sparrow 11. Savannah Sparrow 12. Gray Catbird 13. Tufted Titmouse (v) 14. White-throated Sparrow (v) 15. American Robin (v) 16. Hairy Woodpecker** 17. Hermit Thrush (v)
Chilly again—upper 40s (F)—when we hit the trail, dog and I. Sunny at first, but an a thin layer of clouds overtook the sky before we’d hit the summit. Another birdy day.
Most notable were a Northern Harrier scanning the barrens for a good while, an American Kestrel perched on the highest spruce on the summit, and a Ruffed Grouse we flushed on our ascent. Also heard a raven, spied an osprey, encountered many, many Yellow-rumped Warblers.
I dearly love this time of year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:43 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 2. American Crow** (v) 3. Blue Jay (v) 4. Common Raven (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. Purple Finch (v) 7. Tufted Titmouse 8. Yellow-rumped Warbler 9. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 10. Brown Creeper 11. Black-and-white Warbler 12. Red-eyed Vireo 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch 14. American Robin* 15. Hermit Thrush 16. Gray Catbird (v) 17. Eastern Towhee (v) 18. Hairy Woodpecker 19. Ruffed Grouse 20. White-throated Sparrow (v) 21. Northern Harrier 22. Song Sparrow (v) 23. American Kestrel 24. American Goldfinch (v) 25. Osprey 26. Common Yellowthroat 27. Savannah Sparrow 28. Eastern Bluebird
Elsewhere
29. Carolina Wren (v) 30. Wild Turkey
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
