It rained for a while this morning, but the rain moved through in a relative hurry, leaving dog’s and my hiking hill cloaked in fog. A few birds made themselves known early—very few—but the excitement waited until we were following the muddy wooded trails.
As often happens, it started with the voices of chickadees, voices I pay attention to, considering they typically have travel with an entourage. And that was the case this morning. And among the species in the chickadees’ little posse flitted a single Wilson’s Warbler—the first Wilson’s I’ve seen since our return from Salt Lake City nearly a year and a half ago.
This was the second straight day with evidence of the start of fall migration.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:14 a.m. EST (8:14 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Northern Flicker (v) 2. Gray Catbird 3. Song Sparrow 4. Common Yellowthroat 5. American Goldfinch 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. White-breasted Nuthatch 8. Eastern Bluebird 9. Eastern Wood-pewee 10. Hairy Woodpecker 11. Red-eyed Vireo 12. American Redstart 13. Wilson’s Warbler 14. Eastern Towhee 15. Cedar Waxwing 16. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 17. Blue Jay
Elsewhere
18. Carolina Wren 19. American Crow 20. Herring Gull 21. Rock Pigeon 22. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
This morning’s cool, sunny hike—the yellowish sun of late summer—came with a nice collection of bird species, but a more distracted lister. That’s because of the several conversations I had with fellow Beech Hill hikers.
Bobolink (female/juvie male).
It’s often that way. Jack and I are a friendly pair, and, well, these days trail chats are pretty much our only social life. These chats were good ones— inspiring, involving strangers and old pals, full of interesting coincidences. But I really lose count on such mornings.
I’m pretty sure I nailed things down, though. Most memorable, to me, will be the fact that I got my first halfway decent photo of a Maine hummingbird in a long while. (Haven’t seen many since our return.) Plus, a first-in-years Bobolink.
Rain expected on Wednesday. Tomorrow will be another dry one.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:25 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay (v) 2. American Crow* (v) 3. American Goldfinch** 4. Red-eyed Vireo 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. Red-breasted Nuthatch 7. Alder Flycatcher 8. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 9. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 10. Ovenbird (v) 11. Tufted Titmouse (v) 12. Brown Creeper (v) 13. Gray Catbird** 14. Eastern Towhee 15. Eastern Phoebe 16. Cedar Waxwing 17. Purple Finch 18. Yellow-rumped Warbler 19. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 20. Field Sparrow (v) 21. Song Sparrow** 22. Yellow Warbler (v) 23. Bobolink 24. Chestnut-sided Warbler 25. Northern Cardinal (v) 26. Least Flycatcher (v) 27. Common Yellowthroat 28. Wilson’s Warbler
Elsewhere
29. Carolina Wren (v) 30. American Robin (v) 31. Herring Gull
Mammals
American Red Squirrel
Reptiles
Eastern Garter Snake
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
’Tis the season of little flitty birds. Hiking this morning with dog, I saw a bunch, put a name on a few and missed a few. The funnest sighting: a Wilson’s Warbler (no photo). Migration’s begun for sure.
I also spied a few hawks for a change. Three coops (two circling, a young-un perched) and at last one sharpie.
But my favorite pic of the day was a portrait of a sparrow.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:27 a.m. (8:27 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
