The past few mornings of hiking the hill with dog, I’ve heard the distinctive tseet! note of migrating White-throated Sparrows. I’ve had no good looks at white-throats—they mostly flit through leafy tangles, staying out of sight—but they’re always on the move this time of year.
Today, surprisingly, I had a chance glimpse of one along the wooded trail and managed a (not great) photo. Ta-da!!
You never know in early October. Wonder what we’ll encounter tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:39 a.m. EST (8:39 DST), I hiked all trails.
This morning dog and I hiked a calm, cool quiet, early autumn trail. Migration was going on—many yellow-rumps, a kinglet, White-throated Sparrows—but after four sweet days on an island, it felt mostly like being back amid close family.
Best family photo? A close-up of a resident chickadee.
[On our morning hike, I dropped my Garmin device. Didn’t notice till we got back to the truck. So in afternoon, I went back without Jack—and, by golly, someone had found it and left it on a bench at the hut. Added a raven.]
Beech Hill List Starting at 8:03 a.m. EST (9:03 DST) and again at 1:09 (2:09), I hiked all trails.
Last night’s soaking rain sure enough cooled things down a lot and got rid of the recent humidity. Jack had a much easier time of this morning’s hike—as, I suppose, did I.
But there were fewer flying insects. Perhaps that’s why things were so quiet, bird-wise. Fewer species on my list than in many weeks. But a couple of noteworthy ones: Wood Thrush, Herring Gull, Barn Swallow.
Also, in a chance meeting, I had a nice long chat with three long-time friends I hadn’t seen (or talked to) in a while. Kind of the day’s highlight.
Unless, of course, you count the handsome Eastern Coyote that showed up in the yard this early morning.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:56 a.m. EST (7:56 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 2. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 3. American Goldfinch** 4. Wood Thrush (v) 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Tufted Titmouse (v) 7. Cedar Waxwing 8. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 9. Black-capped Chickadee** 10. American Crow* 11. Gray Catbird 12. Yellow Warbler (v) 13. Herring Gull* 14. Song Sparrow* 15. Barn Swallow 16. American Robin* 17. Blue Jay (v) 18. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 19. Common Yellowthroat (v)
Elsewhere
20. Mourning Dove 21. Osprey 22. House Sparrow 23. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 24. Laughing Gull 25. Rock Dove
Mammals
Eastern Coyote
Reptiles
Garter Snake
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
