Savannah sparrow.
Wow, what a busy day. Glorious weather, for one thing, which might’ve caused the mad scramble at work. Got a lot done, and did it quickly and efficiently so I could get out on my bike. Rode farther than usual, and managed several errands while I was at it. Heard the calls of house sparrows, a red-winged blackbird, several chipping sparrows, cardinals, roadside warblers. Got back about 5 and at once put a leash on Jack.
Eastern phoebe.
We were the only ones at wooded Beech Hill trail—or anywhere on the hill, in fact, during the time we were there—except for the wildlife. Lots of calling birds. Including a few newly vocal residents, like the rose-breasted grosbeak calling from the canopy near the trailhead. I imagine nests have proved fruitful, chicks have hatched, and the adults are busy feeding and introducing the young ‘uns to song.
About half-way up, I heard the guttural call of a raven, then spotted the solitary bird flying up the hill from the direction of the bay. It croaked and squawked and, eventually, attracted the attention of crows.
At the summit, the Beech Nut phoebes were attending to their nest in the eaves. And I spotted a savannah sparrow with a mouthful of leggy bugs and a caterpillar, all stuffed together in its beak. (Even miniature warblers—e.g., yellowthroats—can cram a lot of grub in there when it’s nesting time.) Also heard the song of a wood thrush for the first time in a few weeks, along with the subtler calls of other nesting species (alder flycatcher, aforementioned yellowthroat).
Back down in the woods, more thrushes: hermit, veery, robin. Wood-pewees, of course. (Simply love their call.) Oddly, I heard no chickadees today. But I did hear the crash and clatter of what I must presume were deer bounding through the trees. Or maybe a yearling moose.
Black-and-white warbler.
Tonight, out back, it’s cool and starry. And here and there in the trees are the flashes of the first fireflies of the year.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:3o p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo* (v)
2. Chestnut-sided warbler*
3. Ovenbird* (v)
4. Veery (v)
5. Rose-breasted grosbeak (v)
6. American robin*
7. Eastern towhee (v)
8. Cedar waxwing* (v)
9. Mourning dove* (v)
10. American redstart* (v)
11. Northern raven
12. Herring gull* (v)
13. American crow* (v)
14. Hairy woodpecker (drumming)
15. Gray catbird (v)
16. Yellow warbler* (v)
17. Song sparrow*
18. Common yellowthroat* (v)
19. Eastern phoebe*
20. Wood thrush (v)
21. Savannah sparrow
22. Alder flycatcher (v)
23. Eastern wood-pewee
24. Black-throated green warbler (v)
25. Hermit thrush* (v)
26. Black-and-white warbler* (v)
27. American goldfinch* (v)
Elsewhere
28. House finch (v)
29. Tufted titmouse (v)
30. House sparrow
31. Red-winged blackbird (v)
32. Chipping sparrow
33. Northern cardinal (v)
34. Mallard
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
