A foggy morning down here near sea level. Up on the hill, the blankets of mist lay below us, making the inland hills look like islands—a pretty amazing-looking landscape.
Birds were out and about, too. Ganging up (flickers), moving about (yellow-rumps, waxwings, crows), lurking (towhees, catbirds), vocalizing (nuthatches, chickadees, woodpeckers, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak). The equinox is near.
As is fall migration.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:49 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Wild Turkey 2. Red-breasted Nuthatch 3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 4. American Crow* 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Common Yellowthroat 8. Gray Catbird 9. Field Sparrow 10. Cedar Waxwing 11. Northern Flicker 12. Song Sparrow** 13. Blue Jay (v) 14. American Goldfinch (v) 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler 16. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 17. American Robin (v) 18. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 19. Downy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
20. Mourning Dove 21. Northern Cardinal (v)
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Another in a string of fair, cool mornings. When much of the rest of the country is suffering through heat waves and droughts and fires and flooding, dog and I are particularly lucky in these challenging days.
Plus, I had thirty bird species on my list today. Notable: a gull in the woods (?), first Hermit Thrush in a while, first Veery in a while, first Ovenbird in a while, first Savannah Sparrow in a while. The latter, in particular rather thrilled me.
What a lovely morning. To be followed by a day of rain—or so they say.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. American Crow 3. Red-eyed Vireo 4. Red-bellied Woodpecker 5. Ovenbird 6. Herring Gull 7. Brown Creeper 8. Hermit Thrush 9. White-breasted Nuthatch 10. Tufted Titmouse 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Eastern Towhee 13. Veery 14. Gray Catbird 15. American Goldfinch 16. Hairy Woodpecker 17. Song Sparrow 18. Yellow-rumped Warbler 19. Purple Finch 20. Common Yellowthroat 21. Savannah Sparrow 22. Field Sparrow 23. Cedar Waxwing 24. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 25. Yellow Warbler 26. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 27. Eastern Phoebe 28. Blue Jay 29. Least Flycatcher 30. Northern Flicker
Elsewhere
31. Northern Cardinal 32. Carolina Wren
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
This morning was much like yesterday morning: beautiful, cool (but not quite as cool), clear (but not quite as clear), and birdy (actually birdier).
Three woodpecker species, another tail-flicking Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Brown Creepers, another grosbeak, and a whole mess of waxwings. Nuthatches, four wood-warblers—just a real fun excursion.
Also had visits with a couple nice humans and dogs up there. (The hill is where our social life is, dog and me.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked all trails.
