Only occasionally do I see cardinals at Beech Hill, and usually only along the roadsides at either parking lot. Today I encountered three, very near the summit. I couldn’t figure out exactly what they were up to—other than a young one seemed to be calling to an adult, while the adult looked to be hiding out in a bush. (Thinking about it now, it sounds familiar in a human sort of way.) But one of the birds flitted up directly in front of dog and me, then sat there, waiting for me to take it’s photograph.
Thanks, cardinal.
Otherwise, another harrier (this time being harassed by crows), a random towhee (I thought they’d all gone by now), and my first Pileated Woodpecker in a while, down in the woodlands. And a lot of other cool birds.
I feel lucky to be allowed to hike Beech Hill every day with my best friend.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:07 a.m., I hiked all trails.
The day dawned mostly cloudy, or rather foggy below and hazy above, with a little bit of sunlight filtering through. Chilly, but with the promise of warming. Dog and I slept a little late—convenient for the coming switch to Standard Time—so arrived a bit late to the hill, main trail.
Within a hundred yards, I had a dozen species on my list. Birds everywhere during that first roadside stretch—including a pair of kinglet species. The golden-crowned actually posed for a pic.
Happened to rendezvous with a couple of our friends, and we proceeded up the slope with company and good conversation—and bluebirds, and a White-crowned Sparrow. Eventually headed down the wooded trail alone, just the two of us, as we’re accustomed to doing. Got a Hairy Woodpecker and a titmouse down there.
If I were living in the movie Groundhog Day, I wouldn’t mind reliving this morning a time or two. And tomorrow comes sweet, sweet rain.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:20 a.m., I hiked all trails.
Another clear cool morning, with a slight breeze. Really beautiful fall woods and fields and sky. Also quite a few birds on the hill.
A couple of thrush species, a couple of corvids, a couple of finches, a couple of woodpeckers, a couple of nuthatches, four sparrows. A gull. Many, many yellow-rumps (again). Other native year-round species—and a kestrel at the end.
Cloudy tomorrow, some rain next week. A rich and varied place this is.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:09 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 3. Blue Jay 4. Yellow-rumped Warbler 5. Brown Creeper 6. Eastern Bluebird (v) 7. Purple Finch (v) 8. American Crow 9. Black-capped Chickadee 10. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 11. American Robin (v) 12. American Goldfinch (v) 13. Northern Flicker (v) 14. White-throated Sparrow 15. Eastern Towhee (v) 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 17. Savannah Sparrow 18. Song Sparrow 19. Mourning Dove 20. Herring Gull 21. American Kestrel
Mammals
American Red Squirrel Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
