Cedar waxwing.
Rose to another lovely day: sunny, warm, not a lot of wind. In the old days, I would’ve had a swim—but it’s been a while since I’ve had a pond out my back door. Instead, I worked a while then took a long, sweaty bike ride. (Twice I had to think fast to avoid a crash, thanks to inattentive motorists.) Plenty of shade out there, though, and it was a lovely ride.
Hermit thrush.
On my return, as I was changing clothes with the side door open, I heard a crack and crash and looked out and saw that a small dead tree that had been standing as a perch for many birds since I bought this place more than fifteen years ago had suddenly toppled over.
Crazy.
But then Jack and I took a quick hike up the wooded Beech Hill trail—there was a private party happening at the summit, and we didn’t wish to interfere—and had a nice time of it. Warm, horseflies, sun and shade, thrushes, more frogs (three small ones hopping across the trails), the voices of juvenile birds.
Tonight is cool and luscious. That’s about it.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
Green frog.
1. Black-throated green warbler (v)
2. Red-eyed vireo** (v)
3. Ovenbird (v)
4. Hermit thrush**
5. Chestnut-sided warbler**
6. Veery** (v)
7. Gray catbird**
8. Common yellowthroat**
9. Black-and-white warbler (v)
10. Cedar waxwing**
11. Eastern towhee (v)
12. Yellow warbler (v)
13. American robin** (v)
14. American goldfinch** (v)
15. Alder flycatcher (v)
16. Common raven (v)
17. Song sparrow** (v)
18. House finch
19. Savannah sparrow (v)
20. Herring gull*
21. American crow*
22. Eastern wood-pewee (v)
Elsewhere
23. Tufted titmouse (v)
24. American redstart (v)
25. House sparrow
26. Broad-winged hawk (v)
27. Chipping sparrow (v)
28. Northern cardinal (v)
29. Mourning dove
30. Blue jay
31. Red-winged blackbird (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-throated green warbler, blue jay, broad-winged hawk, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common raven, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mourning dove, northern cardinal, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, red-winged blackbird, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, veery, yellow warbler
