Savannah sparrow.
Woke up. It was a rainy morning, and the first thing that I heard was the song of a northern cardinal, which would make that my first bird. Not a lot of activity thereafter, however—until, a couple hours later, the sky cleared, and the humidity rose, and at my desk I began thinking about a bike ride.
Cedar waxwings.
And so I rode my bike. Nice, fast ride—possibly the fastest of the year so far. And that’s even considering the crazy traffic in Rockland, thanks to the 65th annual Lobster Festival. Kind of nice to see happy folks strolling along Main Street in the sun. After working up a good sweat, I got back to my desk for a little wrap-up, because my thoughts had already turned to my Beech Hill hike with Jack.
Noticed our friend Chuck’s pickup in the parking lot, and soon enough we met him coming down. He didn’t have Greta with him today (she’s bothered by the heat and deer flies), but he did have news: a coyote sighting in a corner field near the summit, apparently a mother with pups. Well, Jack and I hurried up the trail a little quicker than usual—although I did get thinking that I hadn’t actually confirmed that today was the day of the coyote sighting. Nothing in the field when we got there.
(Chuck and Greta have also seen moose up there, an animal Jack and I had also missed. True, we’ve seen a woodchuck and a baby porcupine—kind of wimpy by comparison!)
By the time we reached Beech Nut, in fact, I hadn’t even heard the familiar calls of even a single vireo. That was unusual. But you never know.
E.g., I did spot a scattering of sparrows down the open trail—songs and Savannahs—and even managed somehow to get one of the latter to pose for photos. No one else on the hill today. Also unusual.
Blackberries.
Also missing from today’s list: catbird. I might’ve seen one flitting down in the berry patches, but it also might’ve been a towhee, I couldn’t be sure. Still, speaking of berries, I was pleasantly surprised to find a few ripe blackberries. Blackberries sure taste good.
You never know.
As we descended the lower wooded trail, a woodcock took flight just ahead of us. First woodcock in a while. It kind of made my day.
And finally, as we neared the parking lot again, the calls of a red-eyed vireo.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:45 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. Broad-winged hawk (v)
2. Black-capped chickadee (v)
3. American goldfinch*
4. Cedar waxwing
5. Eastern towhee (v)
6. American crow*
7. Common yellowthroat
8. Alder flycatcher
9. Song sparrow
10. Savannah sparrow
11. American robin (v)
12. Hermit thrush* (v)
13. American woodcock
14. Red-eyed vireo (v)
Elsewhere
15. Northern cardinal (v)
16. Herring gull
17. Rock pigeon
18. Tufted titmouse (v)
19. Mourning dove
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, American woodcock, black-capped chickadee, broad-winged hawk, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, hermit thrush, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse
