Song sparrow (juvie).
Subtle. Very subtle are the signs of resident birds these aging summer days. On my late-afternoon Beech Hill hike with Jack, I took to stopping occasionally and just listening. Looking and listening. Staring at a big blank wall of leafy vegetation to see if I could detect any movement. Waiting for a lull in the wind, then listening hard.
Up the hill and down, not many birds presented themselves—other than a nice young song sparrow right at the summit. I heard plenty of birds but saw only the sparrow, a chickadee, and some waxwings. But when we got back to the parking lot, things started picking up. Heard a nuthatch, a catbird, and a raven. Spotted a tail-wagging phoebe high in a tree.
The most fun for me, I guess, was just standing and listening to the raven’s croaks. I love the voice of a raven.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee
2. American goldfinch** (v)
3. American crow* (v)
4. Blue jay (v)
5. Cedar waxwing
6. Eastern towhee (v)
7. Common yellowthroat (v)
8. Song sparrow
9. White-breasted nuthatch
10. Common raven (v)
11. Gray catbird (v)
12. Eastern phoebe
Elsewhere
13. Herring gull
14. Mourning dove
15. Rock pigeon
16. House sparrow (v)
17. Osprey (v)
18. Northern cardinal (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, Cedar waxwing, common raven, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, house sparrow, mourning dove, northern cardinal, osprey, rock pigeon, song sparrow, white-breasted nuthatch
