Savannah Sparrow.

Rained like crazy on Father’s Day. Real gullywasher for a while there. But by mid-afternoon, the system had moved away—which was a cue for me and Jack to get on over to Beech Hill.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (female).

Which we did. Surprised to see a car in the parking lot, and eventually we ran into two parties (one amounting to a Father’s Day daddy with a young son on his shoulders), but mostly it was damp and foggy and, oddly, quite birdy. Likely the “wake of the storm” effect: after having laid low all day, the bird life was itchin’ to get out and find something to eat.

About halfway up, I spied a sparrow hopping along the trail in front of us. A tiny thing, clearly a fledgling. A peek through my binocs confirmed it as a Savannah Sparrow. (Kind of surprised me, as I thought they were still young nestlings at this point.) This bird was issuing a soft squay! note, and an adult was yipping out warnings from the blueberry field, but the youngster was adept enough to gobble down an earthworm. My guess is it was the first to leave the nest.

And surprisingly, I heard a bunch of calling, singing species—nearly a dozen birds in all.

Plus, I had a lovely long chat with my one and only dearly beloved kiddo. [Hi, Sweetie!]

Happy Summer Solstice everyone.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. American Redstart**
2. Eastern Towhee (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)
4. American Goldfinch (v)
5 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
6. Yellow Warbler
7. Alder Flycatcher
8. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
9. Common Yellowthroat (v)
10. Purple Finch (v)
11. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v)
12. Song Sparrow**
13. Savannah Sparrow
14. Gray Catbird (v)
15. Veery (v)
16. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
17. Ovenbird (v)
18. American Robin (v)
19. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
20. American Crow*
21. Mourning Dove (v)
22. Black-and-white Warbler (v)
23. Hermit Thrush (v)

Elsewhere

24. Northern Flicker (v)
25. Herring Gull

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