No clouds in the sky this fair morning, but a light wind blowing from the west. Few birds to start, but it seems at this time of year they’re moving around in the edges, readying for migration.
Most notable? A cooperative Swainson’s Thrush that posed for me. I’ve seen so few of these—maybe four or five, tops—that it’s still a thrill. Especially when I have photographic proof. Also noteworthy: another Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and a little wave of Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Nice species count today. What count might I have tomorrow? I wonder.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Northern Flicker (v) 2. American Crow* 3. Red-eyed Vireo 4. Black-capped Chickadee 5. American Robin (v) 6. Cedar Waxwing 7. Red-breasted Nuthatch** 8. Eastern Towhee 9. Gray Catbird 10. Swainson’s Thrush 11. American Goldfinch 12. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 13. Common Yellowthroat (v) 14. Blue Jay** 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler 16. Eastern Phoebe 17. Song Sparrow 18. Herring Gull* 19. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 20. Yellow Warbler 21. Savannah Sparrow 22. Tufted Titmouse (v) 23. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 24. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
25. Mourning Dove
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
This morning was much like yesterday morning: beautiful, cool (but not quite as cool), clear (but not quite as clear), and birdy (actually birdier).
Three woodpecker species, another tail-flicking Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Brown Creepers, another grosbeak, and a whole mess of waxwings. Nuthatches, four wood-warblers—just a real fun excursion.
Also had visits with a couple nice humans and dogs up there. (The hill is where our social life is, dog and me.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked all trails.
A lovely morning—clear, with a bit of breeze, still greenery everywhere. Also birds, quite a few species. Among them three woodpecker species.
I do like woodpeckers. Love ’em, actually—their drumming, their unique method of hunting and dining, their calls, their bouncy flight. Today’s species were hairy and downy and red-bellied (in the reverse order). Others I see on the hill are pileated, flicker, and sapsucker. I love ’em all.
Today’s best woodpecker encounter was at the end of our hike, when dog and I stopped to admire the interactions of a little family of Hairy Woodpeckers—a chase, some vocalizations, some excavations.
In my world, a day without woodpeckers is just a little diminished.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 3. Ovenbird (v) 4. Gray Catbird** 5. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 6. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 7. Tufted Titmouse (v) 8. Red-eyed Vireo 9. Downy Woodpecker (v) 10. Eastern Towhee 11. Common Raven (v) 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 14. American Goldfinch (v) 15. American Crow* (v) 16. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 17. Yellow-rumped Warbler 18. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 19. Cedar Waxwing 20. Song Sparrow 21. Blue Jay 22. Northern Cardinal** 23. Purple Finch 24. American Robin 25. Ruffed Grouse 26. Hairy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
27. Mourning Dove
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
