Chilly air this morning, but mostly calm, with little bit of sun early, then overcast. Captain Jack and I loved this day—loved our hike. Both us old guys. No denying it.
Jack had smells—loads and loads of smells—to investigate. He plunged his face in the grass, he raised his nose into the air. I looked and listened for birds. We both found the objects of our interest. In my case, woodpeckers, finches, corvids, many yellow-rumps, miscellaneous other species—and sparrows.
About thirty White-throated Sparrows in fact. Tons of that species moving through. A couple or three towhees. A couple or three Song Sparrows. A couple or three Swamp Sparrows. I only see the latter on the hill during migration—and this year seems to have been fruitful for the species.
I love warblers, I love hawks, I love thrushes, I love a lot of bird families—among them (dearly) sparrows.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:06 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 2. American Robin 3. Yellow-rumped Warbler 4. Hermit Thrush 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. American Crow 7. Eastern Towhee 8. White-throated Sparrow 9. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 10. Blue Jay (v) 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 12. Eastern Phoebe 13. Purple Finch (v) 14. Song Sparrow 15. Gray Catbird (v) 16. American Goldfinch 17. Swamp Sparrow 18. Dark-eyed Junco 19. Northern Flicker 20. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 21. Hairy Woodpecker
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
At dawn, my indoor-outdoor thermometer showed thirties (F) first thing. By the time dog and I headed up the hill, it had risen to about 40°—and mostly sunny. An absolutely lovely, colorful woodland, with little birds flitting around in the periphery.
Granted, most of these birds were yellow-rumps, but I also heard the (off-season) booming of a Ruffed Grouse and the teeny of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Another Swamp Sparrow—bunch of sparrows moving through—and plenty of woodpeckers. A fun hike.
Looking forward to tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:05 a.m., I hiked all trails.
Rained overnight, and the damp understory made me happy (and a little wet and muddy). Fewer ticks than yesterday (one on Jack), but a nice variety of species.
Aside from the usual—a random Swamp Sparrow. Near the summit, in the brushy barrens. First swamp, then Savannah, then song (then, soon after, towhee). Four sparrows, three corvids, two woodpeckers, two nuthatches, two tits (chickadee, titmouse), and a really nice sky.
Note: Full fall color will be later this year on account of global warming.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:10 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 2. American Crow* 3. Tufted Titmouse 4. Golden-crowned Kinglet (v) 5. Northern Flicker (v) 6. Black-capped Chickadee* 7. Yellow-rumped Warbler 8. American Robin (v) 9. Hairy Woodpecker 10. Brown Creeper (v) 11. American Goldfinch (v) 12. Gray Catbird 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 14. Purple Finch (v) 15. White-throated Sparrow* (v) 16. Swamp Sparrow 17. Savannah Sparrow 18. Song Sparrow 19. Blue Jay (v) 20. Eastern Towhee (v) 21. Eastern Phoebe 22. Common Raven (v) 23. Northern Cardinal** (v)
Elsewhere
24. Carolina Wren 25. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
