I see finches nearly every day on the hill during high season. Goldfinches and Purple Finches, usually. Today I saw (or heard) both species. They sing familiar songs and have familiar personalities.
Today dog and I happened to be at the early summit when two male goldfinches decided to have a sort of duel. Or standoff. Or joust. Flitting and chattering and chasing each other around. On a cool, breezy, pre-heat wave morning, that’s about all a body can ask for.
I do have a soft spot for finches.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.Savann
1. Veery** (v) 2. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 3. Song Sparrow** 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler 5. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 6. Gray Catbird** 7. Chipping Sparrow* 8. Ovenbird (v) 9. Eastern Towhee 10. American Goldfinch** 11. Alder Flycatcher (v) 12. Tree Swallow 13. American Robin 14. Savannah Sparrow 15. Mourning Dove 16. American Crow 17. Common Yellowthroat 18. Northern Cardinal** (v) 19. Eastern Phoebe* 20. Northern Flicker (v) 21. Purple Finch (v) 22. Tufted Titmouse (v) 23. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 24. Downy Woodpecker (v) 25. Field Sparrow 26. Blue Jay (v) 27. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 28.Yellow Warbler (v) 29. Hairy Woodpecker 30. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
32. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 33. Herring Gull
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
I love Savannah Sparrows. I’m not sure what it is. Well, I love their wonderful sibilant, insect-like, understated song, with a little hiccup at the end. And yet it carries a mile. Arguable my favorite birdsong.
The past few days I’ve heard the familiar, sharp, faint chip of a Savannah, then spied down the bird, perched near the tip of a low bush (as is their habit). For whatever reason, this species did not nest in early spring at Beech Hill this year, as usual. I missed ’em like crazy. Nice to see at least one second nest has (apparently) prove fruitful.
Otherwise, a luscious, dry, cool breezy July morning. Not many places have such exceptionally sweet summer’s as we do here at the 44th parallel.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
A warm, humid morning. Got to the hill early, and the bird life did not disappoint. Lots of activity, singing and begging and feeding.Got a nice look at a singing/preening redstart. Spotted a Hermit Thrush rather out of place in the spruce grove at the summit.
Also spied two turkey families on the drive back home—two adults and a dozen tiny poults swimming in the tall July grass.
(Supposed to have gotten T-storms, but none by late this evening. Still humid, though.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Veery (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee* * 3. American Redstart 4. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 5. Ovenbird (v) 6. Chipping Sparrow** 7. Red-eye Vireo (v) 8. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 9. American Crow* 10. Common Yellowthroat** 11. Northern Cardinal* (v) 12. Song Sparrow** 13. Alder Flycatcher (v) 14. Cedar Waxwing 15. American Goldfinch (v) 16. Purple Finch (v) 17. Eastern Towhee 18. Field Sparrow (v) 19. Savannah Sparrow 20. Nashville Warbler (v) 21. Eastern Phoebe* 22. Eastern Bluebird 23. Yellow Warbler (v) 24. Tufted Titmouse (v) 25. Mourning Dove* (v) 26. American Robin (v) 27. Gray Catbird** 28. Hermit Thrush 29. Blue Jay (v) 30. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (V)
Elsewhere
31. House Finch (v) 32. Wild Turkey 33. Herring Gull
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
