They’re everywhere at this time of year. I’m talking about Yellow-rumped Warblers—a.k.a. (in the lingo of my birding crowd) “Butter Butts” or just “’Rumps.” There they were on this nippy, breezy, cloudless morning, flitting about in their drab fall plumage, delivering their familiar dry chip notes, by far the most abundant of the migratory species.
Also had white-throats and kinglets again, heard the voice of a Red-shouldered Hawk, had a couple other cool migrants. But just about everywhere dog and I walked, we were accompanied by yellow-rumps.
Will miss them when they’re gone.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:48 a.m. EST (8:48 DST), I hiked all trails.
A second straight windy morning greeted dog and me as we hit the trail—but even windier. Chilly air from the northwest was a-waggin’ the young, leafing-out hardwoods around and making it tough for birds to perch on high. Plus, listening was often a challenge.
Nonetheless, I somehow managed to tally up thirty species on today’s list—including three first-of-year birds.
FOYs are of course fun sightings for avid birders: the after many months away, the old familiar has returned. I’ve had FOY birds just about every day for a week, I bet. And I didn’t even realize I had three today until I viewed my photos, when what I thought was a Red-eyed-Vireo turned out to be a Tennessee Warbler.
Crow dive-bombing a raven, bluebirds taking over the tree swallow box, first-of-year wood-pewee delivering my favorite sound of summer.
Summer will be here before you know it.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:12 a.m., I hiked most trails.
Thick fog early. Again I didn’t expect much in the way of bird activity—or photos. Again I was wrong.
In fact, I had a first-of-year Blackpoll Warbler. Heard the voice of a Wilson’s Warbler for the first time (at least the first time I can remember). At home, I heard/spied a Tennessee Warbler—first in years.
Just an all around great birding day. Thanks, Nature.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin (v) 2. Ovenbird** 3. Gray Catbird** 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 5. Veery** 6. Scarlet Tanager (v) 7. Hairy Woodpecker 8. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 9. Black-and-white Warbler 10. Common Yellowthroat** 11. Blackpoll Warbler† 12. Eastern Towhee 13. Red-eyed Vireo** 14. Tufted Titmouse* (v) 15. American Redstart 16. American Goldfinch (v) 17. American Crow* 18. Yellow Warbler 19. Field Sparrow 20. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 21. Least Flycatcher 22. Song Sparrow** (v) 23. Common Raven 24. Wilson’s Warbler 25. Chipping Sparrow* 26. Alder Flycatcher (v) 27. Tree Swallow 28. Northern Parula (v) 29. Hermit Thrush (v) 30. Wood Thrush (v) 31. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 32. Blue Jay (v) 33. Ruffed Grouse (drumming) 34. Northern Cardinal* (v) 35. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 36. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 37. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
Elsewhere
38. House Finch 39. Tennessee Warbler† 39. House Sparrow (v) 40. Osprey 41. Mallard 42. Herring Gull
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year bird
