Rained overnight, and the morning trails were watery when Captain Jack and I hit the hill. Chilly enough for a sweatshirt, but calm, with air that had the fragrance of fall.
Plenty of birds—I suppose thanks to a change in wind direction—including a minor fallout of yellow-rumps, a very vocal kinglet, and some vocal woodpecker species. Most notable would be an Ovenbird that was hanging out with a Hermit Thrush. (They do look a little alike, I guess.)
To top things off, in afternoon, another dog (Oscar) and I walked the Rockland Breakwater—which will explain a few species listed below.
Beech Hill List Starting at 8:01 a.m. EST (9:01 DST), I hiked all trails.
Our ceiling on this morning’s hike was a gray overcast, and the air was damp and breezy. The forecast rain would not arrive until later in the day, though, so we’d keep comparatively dry, dog and I. And there was no shortage of bird species—including three corvids.
Of the three—crow, jay, and raven—the most notable was the solitary raven flying above us, accompanied by a single crow. (The crows were many and vocal, apparently gearing up for their annual October convention on the hill.)
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:19 a.m. EST (8:19 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* 2. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. American Robin (v) 5. White-throated Sparrow (v) 6. American Goldfinch 7. Yellow-rumped Warbler 8. Northern Flicker (v) 9. Blue Jay (v) 10. Song Sparrow 11. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 12. Brown Creeper (v) 13. Common Raven 14. Gray Catbird (v) 15. Red-eyed Vireo
Elsewhere
16. Mallard 17. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Today dawned foggy. Very, very foggy. When dog and I started up the trailhead, it felt like we were wandering around in a cloud. Foggy, wet, calm—and yet surprisingly birdy for such conditions. Many Yellow-rumped Warblers still, along with bunches of chickadees in the woods.
Most notable was a solitary White-crowned Sparrow that had been chasing after a yellow-rump when it decided to stop and check the trail for seeds. I only see white-crowns at just about this time of year.
Onward!
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:58 a.m. EST (8:58 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* (v) 2. White-throated Sparrow (v) 3. Yellow-rumped Warbler 4. Northern Flicker (v) 5. White-crowned Sparrow† 6. Eastern Towhee 7. Gray Catbird (v) 8. American Robin (v) 9. Song Sparrow 10. Tufted Titmouse (v) 11. Black-capped Chickadee 12. Blue Jay** (v)
Elsewhere
13. Northern Cardinal (v) 14. Mourning Dove 15. Wild Turkey 16. Herring Gull 17. Rock Pigeon 18. Canada Goose (v)
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
