This first day of autumn brought a morning much like yesterday’s: sunny, cool, and fragrant. It also brought a surprising bird species: a Horned Lark. They’re not rare on the hill, but they typically come in small flocks. I rarely see just one, as I did today. An immature male, the bird was poking around the edges of the main trail—and at one point got very near to dog and me as we stood still, and I took photos.
Another oddball was a Nashville Warbler (haven’t seen any since spring, and few then), adult and juvie Hermit Thrush, and a bunch of the usual suspects.
All in all, a fun one.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:24 a.m. EST (8:24 DST), I hiked all trails.
This morning was clear and cool and breezy and lovely—one of my favorite mornings in a long time, weather-wise. But also a favorite, bird-wise. Not only did many show up, but quite a few posed for photos.
My favorite of the bunch (photo, not bird) was the cooperative young thrush you see here.
(Note: I heard the notes of a White-throated Sparrow this morning, first since spring. Another of several recent signs of fall migration.)
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:23 a.m. EST (8:23 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee** 3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 4. Hairy Woodpecker 5. Broad-winged Hawk 6. Hermit Thrush 7. Red-eyed Vireo 8. White-throated Sparrow (v) 9. American Crow* 10. Common Yellowthroat 11. Gray Catbird (v) 12. Yellow-rumped Warbler 13. American Robin (v) 14. Eastern Towhee (v) 15. Northern Parula 16. Northern Flicker (v) 17. Osprey 18. Common Raven 19. Song Sparrow 20. Turkey Vulture 21. American Goldfinch (v)
Two Beech Hill hikes today: a quick, early one with Jack-my-dog, and a later, longer one with a group of curious kids on a middle school field trip. Both were fun.
Ten species early and another six later—the latter ones being most interesting (including an eagle accompanied by hawks). Alas, the last bird on my list was deceased: a dead Black-and-white Warbler I found lying along the trail near the summit. My guess is the bird flew into a window of the hut and managed to flutter across the lawn a ways before succumbing to its injuries. Whatever the case, it’s always sad to find a dead bird.
Migration is risky no matter who you are, and some migrants don’t make it to their destinations. I tossed the little warbler into a soft, shady patch of grass.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:30 a.m. EST (8:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
