It was a cool and overcast morning, a kind of weather I truly love to hike in. Something about that layer of clouds above makes me feel safe, like a soft, protective ceiling. And Captain Jack, with his thick fur coat, liked the coolness.
Yesterday’s wayward solo lark appeared again. So did at least one raven—and, most surprisingly, a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I heard a jay first, just ahead of us around a leafy corner, then the hawk. It’s bright rapid cries made me stop in my tracks. I peaked around the leafy corner, and danged if the bird didn’t allow me a decent photo.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:08 a.m. EST (8:08 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Gray Catbird (v) 2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee** 4. American Crow* (v) 5. Common Yellowthroat (v) 6. Song Sparrow 7. Blue Jay** 8. Horned Lark 9. Yellow-rumped Warbler 10. Northern Flicker (v) 11. Common Raven 12. American Goldfinch** 13. Eastern Towhee (v) 14. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 15. Sharp-shinned Hawk 16. American Robin (v) 17. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 18. Tufted Titmouse (v)
Cool and overcast to start soon became bright and breezy. An interesting array of bird species—three ravens, a flushed woodcock, bluebirds in the woodlands—and plenty of humans (and a couple of dogs) out enjoying the change in the weather.
Common Raven.
Got no complaints about Nature’s offerings this fine day. And tomorrow I help with a middle school hike. Fun!
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:30 a.m. EST (8:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee** 2. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 3. Common Raven 4. Song Sparrow 5. Turkey Vulture* 6. Blue Jay** 7. American Crow* (v) 8. Northern Flicker (v) 9. Gray Catbird (v) 10. Hermit Thrush 11. Eastern Towhee (v) 12. Eastern Bluebird 13. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 14. American Woodcock 15. American Robin 16. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 17. Herring Gull*
Another wet one. Rain early, fog and overcast. And another day—third day?—of migrating birds flitting through the wooded canopy.
Many were warblers: redstart, yellow, black-and-white, yellowthroat. Most were quiet and required an eagle eye to ID. Only one posed for a photo, a Chestnut-sided Warbler.
More rain and sun to come—and the remnants of a hurricane this weekend.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:14 a.m. EST (8:14 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Eastern Towhee 2. Herring Gull* (v) 3. Song Sparrow 4. Blue Jay** (v) 5. American Crow* 6. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 7. American Goldfinch 8. Yellow Warbler (v) 9. Common Yellowthroat 10. Gray Catbird** 11. Black-capped Chickadee 12. Chestnut-sided Warbler 13. American Redstart 14. Red-eyed Vireo 15. American Robin (v) 16. Hairy Woodpecker 17. Northern Flicker (v) 18. Black-and-white Warbler 19. Broad-winged Hawk
Elsewhere
20. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 21. Tufted Titmouse (v) 22. Rock Pigeon 23. House Sparrow (v) 24. Northern Cardinal
Mammals
American Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
