Another clear, breezy morning with a nice assortment of nervous birds. Among the several species up at the summit spruce grove, I spied a Blue-headed Vireo. It’s been weeks since I’ve seen one, months since I’ve heard them singing. This one must’ve been on its way south.
As, by the way, was a nice-sized flock of migrating Monarchs—most I’ve seen so far.
No hawks today, but dog and I did spook another woodcock.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:36 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Common Yellowthroat (v) 2. American Crow* 3. Blue Jay 4. Northern Flicker 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. American Goldfinch** (v) 7. American Robin 8. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 9. Cedar Waxwing 10. Yellow-rumped Warbler 11. American Woodcock 12. Eastern Towhee (v) 13. Gray Catbird (v) 14. Purple Finch (v) 15. Red-breasted Nuthatch 16. Blue-headed Vireo 17. Song Sparrow 18. Hermit Thrush 19. Osprey 20. Downy Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
21. Mourning Dove
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel American Red Squirrel Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Three years ago today, I was hauling a trailer full of my (and Jack’s) belongings and moving to Salt Lake City. Three months ago, we returned—and glad we did. [Not that I didn’t enjoy the high desert.] Today was a good representation of why: a cool morning hike, clean, fragrant air, many birds to observe, a long view of the bay.
Notable today were three woodpecker species that made their presences known within a few minutes of each other, several bird families (adults and juvies, among them nuthatches, sparrows, waxwings), and crows chasing a hawk.
Loved this morning, and looking forward to the next.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:15 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. American Crow* 3. Song Sparrow** 4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 6. Ovenbird 7. American Goldfinch 8. Eastern Towhee 9. Hermit Thrush 10. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 11. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 12. Tufted Titmouse (v) 13. Brown Creeper (v) 14. American Robin 15. Hairy Woodpecker 16. Downy Woodpecker (v) 17. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 18. Eastern Towhee 19. Alder Flycatcher (v) 20. Common Yellowthroat 21. Gray Catbird 22. Chestnut-sided Warbler 23. Cedar Waxwing 24. Chipping Sparrow 25. Field Sparrow 26. Savannah Sparrow 27. Blue-headed Vireo 28. Blue Jay (v) 29. House Wren (v) 30. Herring Gull* 31. Broad-winged Hawk 32. Turkey Vulture 33. Yellow Warbler (v) 34. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
Elsewhere
35. Mourning Dove
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Considering this balmy, droughty stretch of days, I figured it might be nice to take Jack up the hill earlier than usual. After all, the sun rises about 5:15 here at this time of year.
It was a very good hike—warm, but less so than on recent days. Quieter to to start, but ending with a nice batch of bird species—highlight being the very vocal loon that flew over our heads near the summit.
It was a blueberry pick day at Beech Hill. We did our hike and were headed down before the pick began. A warm one, a dry one, but a darn good one.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:27 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Blue Jay (v) 3. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 4. American Goldfinch** 5. American Crow* 6. Veery (v) 7. Black-capped Chickadee** 8. Eastern Wood-pewee 9. White-breasted Nuthatch 10. Brown Creeper (v) 11. Northern Flicker (v) 12. Tufted Titmouse (v) 13. Hermit Thrush 14. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 15. Pine Warbler (v) 16. Downy Woodpecker 17. Eastern Towhee 18. Common Yellowthroat 19. Alder Flycatcher 20. Cedar Waxwing 21. Song Sparrow 22. Yellow Warbler 23. House Wren (v) 24. Purple Finch (v) 25. Herring Gull* 26. Savannah Sparrow (v) 27. Chipping Sparrow 28. Common Loon 29. Blue-headed Vireo (v) 30. American Robin 31. Gray Catbird 32. Chestnut-sided Warbler
Elsewhere
33. Mourning Dove 34. Northern Cardinal (v)
Mammals
Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
