Another cool, sunny September morning. Easier my old dog than the recent hot, muggy morns, and all in all a very nice hike. As for birds, quite a few—including three sparrow species: Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, and Savannah Sparrow.
The latter is my favorite sparrow, thanks to its clean, natty plumage, subtle yellow eyebrow, and sweet, sibilant, insect-like song. Alas, I only heard a couple singing on the hill this past spring, and I’m afraid only one nest resulted in fledglings (whereas in years past, there’d be at least three successful nesting pairs). So it was a nice surprise to catch sight of this one.
As summer grows long in the tooth, and signs of impending migration persist, perhaps it was just passing through.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:20 a.m. EST (8:20 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 2. Blue Jay (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee** 4. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 5. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 6. White-breasted Nuthatch 7. Brown Creeper (v) 8. American Crow* (v) 9. Eastern Towhee 10. Gray Catbird 11. American Goldfinch** 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Savannah Sparrow 14. Song Sparrow 15. Northern Flicker (v) 16. Eastern Bluebird 17. Herring Gull* 18. Alder Flycatcher (v) 19. Turkey Vulture 20. Cedar Waxwing 21. Tufted Titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
22. Chipping Sparrow
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A cool, cloudless morning greeted dog and me as we headed up the wooded trail. By “cool,” I mean mid- to upper-50s (F). But once we hit the open fields, the sun warmed us up a bit—and, considering his thick coat, Jack didn’t much mind the little chill.
Birds were about, and moving. Notable, today, were the three flycatchers that showed up. In the woods, a wood-pewee perched on a snag and sang, occasionally making a quick flight to catch a fly. Nearing the summit, I caught sight of a young Alder Flycatcher (a species that prefers open areas)—and, nearby, a Least Flycatcher.
Between those three species and the waxwings that perched high in the summit spruce grove and dined on a fly hatch, the population of flies dipped quite a bit today.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:20 a.m. EST (8:20 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch** 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. Blue Jay (v) 4. Downy Woodpecker (v) 5. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 6. American Goldfinch 7. Eastern Wood-pewee 8. Tufted Titmouse (v) 9. Black-and-white Warbler 10. Gray Catbird** 11. Eastern Towhee 12. Cedar Waxwing 13. Alder Flycatcher 14. Song Sparrow 15. American Crow* (v) 16. Veery (v) 17. Common Yellowthroat 18. American Robin 19. Turkey Vulture 20. Northern Flicker (v) 21. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 22. Least Flycatcher
Elsewhere
23. Herring Gull 24. Belted Kingfisher
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Cool and bright this morning. The birds remain quiet for the most part, although occasionally I could spy a little warbler poking about in the canopy along the wooded trail. An Osprey soared over the barrens up top, and waxwings crowned the spruces, as usual these days.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:54 a.m. EST (7:54 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Blue Jay (v) 3. American Goldfinch 4. Common Raven (v) 5. Eastern Wood-pewee** 6. Tufted Titmouse (v) 7. American Crow* 8. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 9. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 10. Hermit Thrush (v) 11. Eastern Bluebird 12. Cedar Waxwing 13. Gray Catbird (v) 14. Eastern Towhee 15. Alder Flycatcher (v) 16. Herring Gull 17. Song Sparrow 18. Osprey* 19. Yellow Warbler (v) 20. American Redstart 21. American Robin (v)
Elsewhere
22. Mourning Dove
Reptiles
Red-bellied Snake
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
