Common Yellowthroat.
What a curious day. Warm, sunny, breezy early, but clouding over in afternoon. I had thought I’d go out cycling, but I checked the weather radar, and a patch of rain was fast approaching, so instead I went with Jack to Beech Hill—where birds were surprisingly vocal for the second straight day.
Savannah Sparrow.
Lots of singing Savannah Sparrows again. Other sparrows, too, and a nuthatch, and four warblers. As we came up the trail and slowed so I could peer into a small opening surrounded by thicket, I noticed a small blue bird about ten feet away. Very small, and a solid, deep, lovely blue. An adult male Indigo Bunting. Before I had a chance to raise my camera, it flitted away round behind a bush. The sighting must’ve lasted all of two seconds, tops.
I’d never seen an Indigo Bunting up there before. (In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a male Indigo Bunting in spring plumage before.) It made the day for me—marred only by the lack of even a blurry photo. I’ll look again tomorrow.
Despite all their lively vocals, the birds were skittish, secretive, sneaky. I mainly only got glimpses between the leaves. Meanwhile, you could see the low clouds moving in—a scouting party for Tropical Storm Arthur, off-shore still well to our south. Just as we began our descent, it began to rain a little, but we made it down to the pickup before the rain became steady. It didn’t last long.
Tonight is cool and foggy and fragrant—the fragrance of a summer ocean.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:15, I hiked the open trail.
1. American Crow*
2. Purple Finch (v)
3. American Redstart
4. Cedar Waxwing
5. American Goldfinch (v)
6. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
7. Eastern Towhee (v)
8. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v)
9. Ovenbird** (v)
10. Chipping Sparrow** (v)
11. Gray Catbird
12. Song Sparrow**
13. Yellow Warbler (v)
14. Common Yellowthroat**
15. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
16. Indigo Bunting†
17. American Robin*
18. Northern Flicker
19. Savannah Sparrow
20. Herring Gull*
21. Mourning Dove*
22. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
23. House Finch (v)
24. Northern Cardinal (v)
25. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
26. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, house finch, indigo bunting, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, ovenbird, purple finch, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow warbler
