A gray overcast greeted dog and me as we started up the main trail this morning, with chilly, windy, misty air. After a while the sky turned partly sunny—still, the wooded trails were streams from the big rains, and I slipped in the mud at one point. (No damage done.)
In such adverse conditions (possibly also an inconvenient wind direction), few birds species made themselves known. But we always seem to find delights. Like the scattering of Hermit Thrushes we startled in the woods.
They’re the commonest thrush on the hill these days, but they only sing that ephemeral song in spring‚ and they’ll be moving south pretty soon anyway.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:32 a.m. EST (8:32 DST), I hiked all trails.
Today dawned foggy. Very, very foggy. When dog and I started up the trailhead, it felt like we were wandering around in a cloud. Foggy, wet, calm—and yet surprisingly birdy for such conditions. Many Yellow-rumped Warblers still, along with bunches of chickadees in the woods.
Most notable was a solitary White-crowned Sparrow that had been chasing after a yellow-rump when it decided to stop and check the trail for seeds. I only see white-crowns at just about this time of year.
Onward!
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:58 a.m. EST (8:58 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* (v) 2. White-throated Sparrow (v) 3. Yellow-rumped Warbler 4. Northern Flicker (v) 5. White-crowned Sparrow† 6. Eastern Towhee 7. Gray Catbird (v) 8. American Robin (v) 9. Song Sparrow 10. Tufted Titmouse (v) 11. Black-capped Chickadee 12. Blue Jay** (v)
Elsewhere
13. Northern Cardinal (v) 14. Mourning Dove 15. Wild Turkey 16. Herring Gull 17. Rock Pigeon 18. Canada Goose (v)
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
This morning felt fall-like (which I guess makes sense, since it’s autumn): chilly, breezy, a little pungent, with a mostly blue sky above and a few fallen leaves below. Not many bird species today—although the Horned Lark was joined by another one today—and few numbers, just one or two of each.
Except for the Black-capped Chickadee. I saw and/or heard eight of those happy little year-round guys. Summer’s gone, but the chickadees are still out and about.
No wonder it’s Maine’s state bird.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:17 a.m. EST (8:17 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee** 2. Northern Flicker (v) 3. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 4. Common Raven (v) 5. American Crow* (v) 6. Horned Lark 7. Song Sparrow 8. American Goldfinch (v) 9. Blue Jay** 10. Gray Catbird
