Another Beech Hill hike without Jack-my-dog (again we walked from the house to the Wellness Trail later), which still seems extremely weird. However, a little excitement on the hill. For one thing, I counted thirty-six species today.
In reviewing this total later, I realized I’d skipped a number. However, I happened upon a blurry photo, quickly snapped, that showed a bird I could not identify. Checked with an expert ID friend, who pronounced it a female Indigo Bunting. Also got nice pics of a yellowthroat for a change and encountered a Snowshoe Hare.
Another sunny one forecast for tomorrow, but rain’s gonna come this weekend—and continue all the following week. (Frankly, we can use it.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:00 a.m. sun time (7:00 DST), I hiked all trails, and then some.
What a curious day. Warm, sunny, breezy early, but clouding over in afternoon. I had thought I’d go out cycling, but I checked the weather radar, and a patch of rain was fast approaching, so instead I went with Jack to Beech Hill—where birds were surprisingly vocal for the second straight day.
Savannah Sparrow.
Lots of singing Savannah Sparrows again. Other sparrows, too, and a nuthatch, and four warblers. As we came up the trail and slowed so I could peer into a small opening surrounded by thicket, I noticed a small blue bird about ten feet away. Very small, and a solid, deep, lovely blue. An adult male Indigo Bunting. Before I had a chance to raise my camera, it flitted away round behind a bush. The sighting must’ve lasted all of two seconds, tops.
I’d never seen an Indigo Bunting up there before. (In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a male Indigo Bunting in spring plumage before.) It made the day for me—marred only by the lack of even a blurry photo. I’ll look again tomorrow.
Despite all their lively vocals, the birds were skittish, secretive, sneaky. I mainly only got glimpses between the leaves. Meanwhile, you could see the low clouds moving in—a scouting party for Tropical Storm Arthur, off-shore still well to our south. Just as we began our descent, it began to rain a little, but we made it down to the pickup before the rain became steady. It didn’t last long.
Tonight is cool and foggy and fragrant—the fragrance of a summer ocean.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 2:15, I hiked the open trail.
