Overcast and cool (low-60s (F)) this morning, with just a whisper of a breeze. Quiet on the trail first thing, but occasional calls came through. They’re moving around, the migratory species. They’re readying for the long fall journey.
Notably, more orioles today, and a minor fly hatch atop the summit spruce grove. But most notably was the circling collection of about a dozen barn swallows, a few families catching flies.
And the last bird on my list? A loon calling from not that far above the trees as we neared the end of our hike, dog and me.
(Today I booked dog and me a ferry and room for a Monhegan birding trip next month. It’s been more than three years. Excited.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:25 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 2. American Crow* 3. American Goldfinch 4. Black-capped Chickadee 5. Tufted Titmouse (v) 6. Blue Jay (v) 7. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 8. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 9. American Robin 10. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 11. Ovenbird 12. Eastern Wood-pewee 13. Brown Creeper (v) 14. Eastern Phoebe* 15. Eastern Towhee 16. Alder Flycatcher 17. Gray Catbird** 18. Northern Flicker 19. Cedar Waxwing 20. Yellow Warbler (v) 21. White-throated Sparrow (v) 22. Baltimore Oriole 23. Barn Swallow 24. Song Sparrow 25. Field Sparrow 26. Least Flycatcher (v) 27. Common Yellowthroat (v) 28. Chestnut-sided Warbler 29. Common Loon (v)
Elsewhere
30. Mourning Dove 31. Herring Gull 32. Rock Dove
Mammals
American Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A mostly cloudy hike this morning, and cool, with a tiny bit of breeze. Truly a lovely hike with dog—and anxious-seeming birds.
They know the photoperiod is shortening, and it won’t be long before migration beckons, and they’re flitting around, snatching up caterpillars, or flies, or grasshoppers—and/or berries.
One of the species I saw this morning is notable: a Baltimore Oriole. I’ve encountered the species three times in the past few days, and always (I’m pretty sure) poking about in the same few trees. I don’t see orioles often on the hill, so this has been pretty fun.
It was warm—about 71° (F)—when dog and I arrived at the trailhead rather early. Still some sun shining through the clouds, but the clouds were supposed to take over, with rain possible later in the day. Not many birds to start, but once we hit the edge between woods and fields, my species numbers kinda took off.
Young Red-bellied Woodpecker, sapsucker in the woods, a few Brown Creepers, jay and crow and raven. Most notable: a group of about fifteen cawing crows approached the summit on our return—and I spied what the source of their attention: a first-of-year Northern Harrier.
Still no rain tonight, but it’s supposed to start in the wee hours and rain much of tomorrow. We shall see what kind of hike we take. Exciting!
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:11 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 2. Hermit Thrush (v) 3. American Crow* 4. American Goldfinch 5. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 6. Eastern Wood-pewee 7. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 8. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (v) 9. Brown Creeper 10. Tufted Titmouse** (v) 11. Common Yellowthroat 12. Gray Catbird 13. Alder flycatcher (v) 14. Eastern Towhee** 15. Red-bellied Woodpecker 16. Eastern Phoebe 17. Downy Woodpecker (v) 18. American Robin* (v) 19. Yellow Warbler 20. Mourning Dove* 21. Cedar Waxwing 22. Song Sparrow* 23. Northern Flicker 24. Least Flycatcher 25. Blue Jay (v) 26. Northern Harrier† 27. Common Raven (v)
