The temperature dipped into the 50s (F) overnight, and a stout breeze was blowing when dog and I headed up the wooded trail. Very few birds made themselves known at first—my list had only five or six species by the time we reached the summit—but one of them (I found out later) proved to be rather exciting.
Not until I looked at my photo of the Swainson’s Thrush did I recognize it. (I’d assumed it was a Hermit Thrush, one of which I’d seen shortly before.) I’ve encountered only a handful of the species at Beech Hill—usually, it seems, at about this season. This one turned out to be today’s highlight.
Tomorrow—for the first time in I cannot remember how long—we might not go hiking in the morning. There’s a tropical storm warning: We’re in the path of Hurricane Lee. Gonna be very wet and very windy. We shall see!
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:14 a.m. EST (8:14 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 2. Tufted Titmouse (v) 3. Hermit Thrush 4. Swainson’s Thrush 5. American Crow* 6. Black-capped Chickadee** 7. Common Yellowthroat (v) 8. Eastern Towhee (v) 9. Song Sparrow** 10. Red-breasted Nuthatch 11. Turkey Vulture 12. American Goldfinch 13. American Robin (v) 14. Blue Jay** (v)
Elsewhere
15. Carolina Wren (v) 16. House Finch (v) 17. House Sparrow (v) 18. Herring Gull 19. Osprey 20. Rock Pigeon 21. Mallard
(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.
It rained most of last night, and the day dawned wet and drippy. The overcast lasted all day, but my morning hike with dog was all sweet, watery drippiness. Quiet, though, with few birds flitting around in the greenery.
Until (as yesterday) we reached a spot on the wooded trail where chickadees were chatting at each other. Sure enough, several species of small birds were accompanying the chickadees—vireo, warblers, a wood-pewee….
Also spied a Swainson’s Thrush again, perhaps the same individual as yesterday. I listened as it repeatedly uttered a sweet short note I’d never heard before.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:03 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay (v) 2. American Crow 3. Ovenbird 4. Northern Flicker 5. Gray Catbird 6. Eastern Towhee (v) 7. Song Sparrow 8. Common Yellowthroat (v) 9. Swainson’s Thrush 10. Yellow-rumped Warbler 11. Cedar Waxwing (v) 12. Black-capped Chickadee 13. Black-throated Green Warbler 14. Black-and-white Warbler 15. Tufted Titmouse (v) 16. Red-eyed Vireo 17. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 18. White-throated Sparrow 19. American Goldfinch
Elsewhere
20. Mallard
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year