Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are not uncommon. They nest at Beech Hill, where I hike with Captain Jack every day. But they’re shy birds—frequenting the high canopy, where all the leaves are, and all too quick to fly.

I heard a grosbeak’s sweet melodic song as we climbed the hill this morning. As I had most mornings for the past couple weeks or so. Over that time, I only got one glimpse of the bird: a quick flitting image zipping away around a stand of trees.

Today, while at the summit, a rose-breasted’s song erupted from the spruce grove, not fifty feet away. Snuck over to the other side, so the sun would illuminate the bird, took a few steps back.

And there he was.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Chestnut-sided Warbler** (v)
2. Common Yellowthroat**
3. Ovenbird (v)
4. Downy Woodpecker
5. Chipping Sparrow
6. Eastern Bluebird
7. Gray Catbird** (v)
8. Yellow Warbler
9. Nashville Warbler (v)
10. Alder Flycatcher
11. Song Sparrow**
12. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
13. American Goldfinch** (v)
14. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
15. American Crow*
16. Eastern Towhee
17. Field Sparrow (v)
18. Eastern Phoebe
19. Purple Finch
20. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
21. Cedar Waxwing
22. Northern Cardinal (v)
23. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)

Elsewhere

24. House Finch
25. Herring Gull
26. Wild Turkey
27. Mourning Dove
28. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere