Had appointments this morning, my return hike to Beech Hill with dog didn’t happen until late morning. Didn’t expect too many bird species; didn’t encounter too many. However, I encountered a lot of birds.
Mainly that’s because of the numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers. (I settled on 30 individuals, but I believe that’s rather low.) Also had at least a dozen White-throated Sparrows—probably more like sixteen. And a goodly number of chickadees.
In just the five days were were on Monhegan, the color of the landscape has changed—much more yellowish, with reds in the fringes. It’s happening.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 11:14 a.m., I hiked all trails.
This day was sunny and breeezy—a stout wind whipping our way from the west-northwest. I wasn’t sure what to expect, bird-wise (as is usually the case), but right away, I saw a White-crowned Sparrow. I only see that species on the hill during migration, so that was fun.
A Song Sparrow joined the white-crowned after a little while.
Down on the wooded trails, ticks are still lurking. Few bird species—but I did hear a vireo and a flicker. (The wind in the canopy dampened the voices of birds.)
Returning down the main trail, we encountered a handsome White-throated Sparrow. Nice. And tomorrow we venture to Monhegan Island. In high seas, apparently, thanks to a hurricane (thankfully far) offshore.
Will keep you posted.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:29 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* 2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 3. White-crowned Sparrow 4. Common Yellowthroat (v) 5. Song Sparrow 6. Yellow-rumped Warbler 7. Blue Jay 8. Eastern Towhee (v) 9. Northern Flicker (v) 10. Sharp-shinned Hawk 11. American Goldfinch 12. Black-capped Chickadee 13. White-throated Sparrow 14. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
Elsewhere
15. Northern Cardinal 16. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
American Red Squirrel Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Sometime overnight the clouds dispersed, making this last summer day a sunny one. Also chilly, but in a good way. Rather quiet overall—but one of the first bird species to appear provided some early excitement.
A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, tearing into a birch near the trailhead. They were excavating the heck out of that thing. And they had a couple exciting interactions, when the dominant bird chased the other around the tree a few times until it flew off to a new trunk nearby.
Three other woodpecker species, a couple of corvids, and a bunch of the usual suspects rounded out my last-day-of-summer list.
Bring it on, sweet autumn!
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:38 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay 2. Black-capped Chickadee** 3. Pileated Woodpecker 4. American Crow* 5. Hairy Woodpecker 6. Gray Catbird 7. American Robin 8. Northern Flicker 9. Cedar Waxwing 10. American Goldfinch 11. Yellow-rumped Warbler 12. Purple Finch (v) 13. Eastern Towhee (v) 14. Common Yellowthroat (v) 15. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 16. Song Sparrow 17. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
18. Rock Pigeon 19. Herring Gull 20. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
