Yet nippier this morning under clear blue skies. Slight breeze. Quiet in the woodlands—but birds were flitting about in the trees’ still-clinging leaves. But this is the season of low-key migration. Birds moving urgently over and through the landscape, but keenly aware of the dangers. You have to use your eyes as well as your ears.
Notable were the scores of Yellow-rumped Warblers moving through—by far the most abundant species. (And the only warbler.) Also, a pair of ravens flew over. Two nuthatch species. A couple bluebirds.
Perhaps it is my favorite season because of the subtlety—the lurking about, the laying low. Fall birding is a fun challenge, and a rewarding one.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:38 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Yellow-rumped Warbler 2. American Goldfinch 3. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 4. Hairy Woodpecker 5. Common Raven 6. American Robin 7. Black-capped Chickadee 8. Blue Jay (v) 9. Gray Catbird (v) 10. American Crow* 11. Brown Creeper 12. Eastern Towhee (v) 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 14. White-throated Sparrow 15. Dark-eyed Junco 16. Northern Flicker 17. Purple Finch 18. Eastern Bluebird (v) 19. Song Sparrow 20. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 21. Tufted Titmouse (v) 22. Red-eyed Vireo
Elsewhere
23. Herring Gull 24. Northern Cardinal (v)
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Again nippy with partial sun, but rather windy when dog and I headed up the hill. With the loudly rustling leaves, it was hard to make out the voices of the birds in the woods—but I followed a couple pods of chickadees, who were (as often is the case) companied by quiet little warblers. Also vireos.
Four warbler spp., three corvid spp., two vireo spp, a pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks, an Osprey, and the southbound flight of three geese. Plus a raven—and another Swainson’s Thrush. (Growing to like the species a lot.)
I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:20 a.m., I hiked all trails.
Chilly again—upper 40s (F)—when we hit the trail, dog and I. Sunny at first, but an a thin layer of clouds overtook the sky before we’d hit the summit. Another birdy day.
Most notable were a Northern Harrier scanning the barrens for a good while, an American Kestrel perched on the highest spruce on the summit, and a Ruffed Grouse we flushed on our ascent. Also heard a raven, spied an osprey, encountered many, many Yellow-rumped Warblers.
I dearly love this time of year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:43 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 2. American Crow** (v) 3. Blue Jay (v) 4. Common Raven (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. Purple Finch (v) 7. Tufted Titmouse 8. Yellow-rumped Warbler 9. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 10. Brown Creeper 11. Black-and-white Warbler 12. Red-eyed Vireo 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch 14. American Robin* 15. Hermit Thrush 16. Gray Catbird (v) 17. Eastern Towhee (v) 18. Hairy Woodpecker 19. Ruffed Grouse 20. White-throated Sparrow (v) 21. Northern Harrier 22. Song Sparrow (v) 23. American Kestrel 24. American Goldfinch (v) 25. Osprey 26. Common Yellowthroat 27. Savannah Sparrow 28. Eastern Bluebird
Elsewhere
29. Carolina Wren (v) 30. Wild Turkey
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
