Savannah sparrow.
Sunlight streamed through the blinds this early morning, somewhat startling me. I’d about forgotten what that felt like, what with all the recent gloom and rain. Not that I mind a little gloom and rain—I like Nature’s unpredictable moods, her turning seasons, her fickle whimsy—but just the sight of a cloudless blue sky filled me with a sort of miniature wonder. Grabbed Jack, headed up to Beech Hill.
American redstart (first-year male).
The woodlands were still a little wet from the long, wet week, but the birds were digging the light and bugs and lushness. Plenty of singing birds—including a not-so-common great crested flycatcher—and plenty of vivid, cinematic color for a change. The wide constellations of trailside blackberry blossoms seemed whiter, more fragrant. The song of the young redstart in the leafy trees seemed brighter, more jubilant. At the summit, two or three calling broad-winged hawks soared over, their flight seeming somehow more aerobatic. Then again, with the sun there did come a stout, blustery western wind.
We wandered up there for more than two hours this morning, hiking every trail. A savannah sparrow stood sentinel on a “Please Stay on the Trail” sign. Heard a tanager. Saw an osprey.
Down in the shady woods, I was surprised to see a couple of waxwings (which typically like the sunnier wood-edge). Saw three or four pewees. Heard three or four black-and-white warblers. Heard many more viroeos than that—and got a fair photo of one. We returned a happy man and dog.
Red-eyed vireo.
And then I had a nice, long bike ride. That made me even happier.
Tonight is still. Cool. And starry.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:45 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo
2. Chestnut-sided warbler
3. Great crested flycatcher (v)
4. American crow* (v)
5. Common yellowthroat*
6. Ovenbird (v)
7. Black-capped chickadee*
8. American redstart*
9. Eastern towhee (v)
10. Tufted titmouse* (v)
11. Mourning dove*
12. Alder flycatcher (v)
13. Yellow warbler* (v)
14. Northern cardinal* (v)
15. Cedar waxwing*
16. Black-and-white warbler
17. Gray catbird (v)
18. Hermit thrush* (v)
19. Song sparrow* (v)
20. Black-throated green warbler (v)
21. Red-breasted nuthatch (v)
22. Field sparrow (v)
23. Blue jay
24. Broad-winged hawk
25. Savannah sparrow
26. Brown-headed cowbird
27. Veery (v)
28. Osprey
29. Scarlet tanager (v)
30. American goldfinch*
31. Eastern wood-pewee
32. American robin*
Elsewhere
33. House finch (v)
34. Herring gull
35. Mallard
36. Common grackle
37. European starling
38. Rock pigeon
39. Chipping sparrow (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, blue jay, broad-winged hawk, brown-headed cowbird, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common grackle, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, European starling, field sparrow, gray catbird, great crested flycatcher, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, osprey, ovenbird, red-breasted nuthatch, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, scarlet tanager, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, veery, yellow warbler
