Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Now that I’ve got wheels, I can head on up to Beech Hill whenever I want to. Well, barring other commitments. Jack doesn’t have so many of those, though, so he’s always ready to roll.
I
Chestnut-sided Warbler (juvie).
t was late in the afternoon when we started up the trail. Somebody was mowing the lawn across the road. No sapsuckers at the sapsucker tree—in fact, I didn’t see or hear a bird for a good five minutes, I bet. It wasn’t until we’d stopped about half-way up that things started to get interesting.
First, I topped to watch waxwings flutter off their perches in pursuit of invisible (to me) flies, when I heard the strident chips of a fledgling goldfinch high in a trailside birch, so I watched the feeding for a minute, trying to get an angle for a photo. Then a hummingbird flew by. Then a young Chestnut-sided Warbler distracted me from the hummingbird.
Caught sight of both Savannah and Song Sparrow near the summit. Both were skittish, secretive, clearly new parents.
A sweet hazy afternoon view from the summit. A light spattering of rain greeted us on our return to the parking lot, where we were greeted by my new set of wheels. Jack has to hop in the other side of the truck now, but he’s already used to it.
Changes, changes.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American Goldfinch
2. Eastern Towhee (v)
3. Cedar Waxwing**
4. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
5. American Crow*
6. American Robin (v)
7. Chestnut-sided Warbler
8. Gray Catbird (v)
9. Common Yellowthroat
10. Savannah Sparrow
11. Song Sparrow
12. Blue Jay
Elsewhere
13. Herring Gull
14. House Sparrow
15. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
15. Wild Turkey
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Sun-haze in the valley.
