Savannah Sparrow.

I’m not that great of a bird journalist. I mean, I’m not sure I put down enough information about the progress of the various nesting species I see on my daily Beech Hill hikes, the maturation of their young, the reasons—or my speculation on the reasons—for their particular silence, or secretiveness, or distraction displays, or changing vocalizations. Apologies for that.

But I can tell you that, this late afternoon, I was surprised not to hear any American Redstarts singing. Every day for the past couple weeks, they’ve been calling from the trees around the parking lot—there’s at least one nest near there—but today I didn’t hear or see any redstarts. In fact, I heard many fewer birds than in recent days. (I say “heard,” because, frankly, I didn’t see many of the species on my list today.) Chipping Sparrows still feedling fledglings; Eastern Towhees still calling; singing Yellow and Chestnut-sided Warblers; Song Sparrows, Eastern Phoebes, and Savannah Sparrows active toward the summit.

The Savannah Sparrows must have hatchlings—perhaps nearly fledglings—judging by their feinting behavior along the wide farm road. I know where the nest must be, but of course I won’t investigate. I still wonder if there’s a nest on the sod roof of Beech Nut: a Savannah was singing from the peak again today.

Coastal Mountains Land Trust volunteers had been hard at work today, I saw, readying for the upcoming hundredth anniversary of the construction of Beech Nut, the Norwegian-style hytte on top. New-strung posts along the mown-edge trail, drainage sluices on the lower, mud-prone sections, pruned brush. It happens the evening of 27 June. Should be a great time.

But today was somewhat of a lull. Not many birds. Secretive birds. I suppose it’s just this way around the solstice.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. American Robin** (v)
2. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v)
3. Chipping Sparrow (v)
4. Ovenbird (v)
5. Cedar Waxwing** (v)
6. Song Sparrow**
7. Common Yellowthroat** (v)
8. American Goldfinch (v)
9. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
10. Alder Flycatcher (v)
11. Eastern Phoebe
12. Gray Catbird (v)
13. Savannah Sparrow
14. Yellow Warbler** (v)
15. Purple Finch (v)

Elsewhere

16. House Sparrow (v)
17. Herring Gull
18. Northern Cardinal (v)
19. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
20. Mourning Dove
21. Rock Pigeon
22. Black-and-white Warbler (v)
23. Double-crested Cormorant
24. Great Black-backed Gull

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere