A damp, overcast morning, with fog on the hill. Most birds on my list today were heard, not seen. The first—just as we began ascending, dog and I—turned out to be a group of turkeys, a pair of adults and many poults, leading us up the trail. Later, we encountered bunch of juvie towhees in the brushy fields, one of which posed for a quick photo.
Those bird empaths among us get a slight feel of urgency at this time of year, when the youngsters need to grow up in a hurry. (And they do.)
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:11 a.m. EST (8:11 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* (v) 2. Wild Turkey* 3. Gray Catbird** (v) 4. American Goldfinch** (v) 5. Song Sparrow 6. Northern Cardinal** (v) 7. Common Yellowthroat 8. Eastern Towhee 9. Cedar Waxwing 10. Yellow Warbler (v) 11. Eastern Phoebe 12. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 13. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 14. Brown Creeper (v) 15. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 16. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
Dog and I hiked in the rain this morning. Not a hard rain, but a steady one for much of it. Hardly any birds to start, but I began to hear some in the woodlands—and after the rain let up a bit, got a glimpse of a few species.
The highlight: a juvenile Prairie Warbler that popped up for a photo at the very end of our hike. First prairie I’ve seen this year (although I heard ’em singing in spring).
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:28 a.m. EST (8:28 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Cedar Waxwing 2. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 4. American Redstart 5. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 6. Broad-winged Hawk (v) 7. Gray Catbird 8. Eastern Towhee (v) 9. American Goldfinch (v) 10. Song Sparrow 11. American Crow* (v) 12. Prairie Warbler
They grow up so fast! This year’s new bird crop, I mean. They’ve got to, of course—fall migration is right around the corner (a month or less away for most migratory species). And the young ’uns are starting to come out and introduce themselves to the wider world.
Today’s most cooperative juvie? A young catbird that posed long enough for a fairly decent portrait.
(Also, a Meadow Vole scrambled across the trail in front of dog and me.)
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:09 a.m. EST (8:09 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. American Goldfinch** 4. Eastern Phoebe (v) 5. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 6. Cedar Waxwing (v) 7. White-breasted Nuthatch** 8. Eastern Wood-pewee 9. Eastern Bluebird (v) 10. Tufted Titmouse (v) 11. Black-and-white Warbler 12. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 13. American Crow* 14. Eastern Towhee 15. Gray Catbird 16. Song Sparrow 17. Yellow Warbler 18. Common Yellowthroat** (v)
