A morning much like yesterday’s—a bit colder (20s (F)), not quite as breezy, perhaps a bit more overcast. Not as many bird species, but quite a few more individual birds.
The species with the most numbers: yellow-rumps. Goldfinches came in a close second. Also a bunch of chickadees. Three woodpecker species, several crows—and even a departing raven. But most noteworthy would be the bluebirds.
A little gang at the summit, perching, posing. Even a single individual way down by the wooded trailhead. Any day with bluebirds—even a nippy day in November—is a good ’un.
(Also notable: en route early, saw a handsome buck loping across a field.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:19 a.m., I hiked most trails.
Still in the 30s (F) when dog and I hit the trail this a.m. Bright, though, with barely a breeze, and the birds began to let themselves be heard—and seen. Chickadee, titmouse, nuthatch, woodpeckers, jays. They even showed up in numbers: a whole bunch of bluebirds in flight, even more robins bouncing around the treetops, and dozens of cawing crows.
But most fun for me were hawks. First, I spied a Cooper’s Hawk (which had the robins nervous), and later we came upon a handsome Northern Harrier, patrolling low above the blueberry barrens as they do here in both spring and fall. Got a glimpse of one last month, and now another in October.
It’ll be nice to see a “gray ghost” come spring.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:06 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. American Robin 3. Brown Creeper (v) 4. Tufted Titmouse 5. Eastern Bluebird 6. Blue Jay 7. White-breasted Nuthatch 8. Downy Woodpecker (v) 9. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 10. Yellow-rumped Warbler 11. Cooper’s Hawk 12. American Crow 13. American Goldfinch (v) 14. Northern Harrier 15. Savannah Sparrow 16. Dark-eyed Junco (v)
Elsewhere
17. Golden-crowned Kinglet (v) 18. Rock Pigeon 19. European Starling 20. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
The day dawned chilly. Not yet freezing, but in the 30s (F). Still, a bright sun rising lent an air of expectation to the morning.
Nothing much at first, though. Captain Jack didn’t mind, but a little breeze chilled my fingers. During our ascent through the woods, I counted only five bird species.
Nearing the summit, though, things got a bit interesting: flicker, junco, nuthatch. Rounding out our usual circuit (down and back up the main trail), I added several more (jay, sparrow, gull, another nuthatch species), and returning through the woods, I managed to bump the list up to fifteen.
But the excitement this day was my managing to get my first look at a Carolina Wren that’s been singing in the trees around my house. It even stopped moving for long enough for me to grab a candid photo.
Thanks, CW!
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:06 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee** 2. American Crow* 3. Downy Woodpecker 4. American Robin 5. Yellow-rumped Warbler 6. Northern Flicker 7. Dark-eyed Junco 8. White-throated Sparrow (v) 9. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 10. Blue Jay 11. Song Sparrow (v) 12. Herring Gull* 13. White-breasted Nuthatch 14. Purple Finch (v) 15. Hairy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
16. Northern Cardinal (v) 17. Rock Pigeon 18. Carolina Wren
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
