This morning was clear and cool and breezy and lovely—one of my favorite mornings in a long time, weather-wise. But also a favorite, bird-wise. Not only did many show up, but quite a few posed for photos.
My favorite of the bunch (photo, not bird) was the cooperative young thrush you see here.
(Note: I heard the notes of a White-throated Sparrow this morning, first since spring. Another of several recent signs of fall migration.)
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:23 a.m. EST (8:23 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee** 3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 4. Hairy Woodpecker 5. Broad-winged Hawk 6. Hermit Thrush 7. Red-eyed Vireo 8. White-throated Sparrow (v) 9. American Crow* 10. Common Yellowthroat 11. Gray Catbird (v) 12. Yellow-rumped Warbler 13. American Robin (v) 14. Eastern Towhee (v) 15. Northern Parula 16. Northern Flicker (v) 17. Osprey 18. Common Raven 19. Song Sparrow 20. Turkey Vulture 21. American Goldfinch (v)
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
Again we encountered relatively few bird species this warm, muggy morning, dog and I. However, one of my early sightings was a Broad-winged Hawk in the woodlands. Broad-wings are forest hawks, and I see a few every year. Typically, I’ll spy one when it leaves a perch to fly a little distance away from an approaching dog and human. Most of the time I can find their new perch—which is what happened this morning.
Also noteworthy was a singing Blue-headed Vireo, a sign (to me, at least) that birds are beginning to think about fall migration. Can hardly wait.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:04 a.m. EST (8:04 DST), I hiked all trails.
