Yellow-rumped warbler.
Got a lot done this Saturday morning, and what with some college football on this afternoon’s and evening’s agenda, I figured midday would be a good time to hike Beech Hill with Jack. I’d forgotten Coastal Mountains Land Trust was hosting a kite and ice-cream day today—and the sun came out, and great billowing clouds floated by, and children and their families hiked the hill, and kites took flight, and a good time was had by all.
Kites at Beech Nut.
Ironically, as we got out of the truck in the lonesome Rockville Street parking lot, I first stood to listen (as is my habit) and though, Wow, it’s really, really still today. However, just the right amount of wind picked up from the west-northwest to make it a perfect kite-flying afternoon.
For being so still and silent, I heard very few birds in the woods. At first. Finally heard the chatter of a goldfinch, the whine of a vireo, the swee! of a waxwing, and the voices of other birds. At one point I thought I heard the thin whistle of a broad-winged hawk—which would not be unusual at all—but right after I heard the cries of blue jays, and since blue jays sometimes imitate broad-wings, well….
No hawks today (although I just missed a kestrel, apparently). No ravens. I did get a nice peek at a phoebe in the woods coming back down a couple hours after we started our hike.
Oh, and before I forget: last night I did walk out to listen to the sky, where I heard the faint peeps of migrating birds.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 12 p.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American goldfinch (v)
2. Red-eyed vireo (v)
3. Cedar waxwing
4. Black-capped chickadee
5. Eastern towhee (v)
6. Gray catbird
7. Common yellowthroat (v)
8. Blue jay** (v)
9. Yellow-rumped warbler
10. White-throated sparrow
11. American crow* (v)
12. Song sparrow
13. Northern flicker (v)
14. Eastern phoebe
Elsewhere
15. Herring gull
16. Mallard
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, mallard, northern flicker, red-eyed vireo, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
