American Redstart (female).
The sun actually flickered in and out a little this morning, but the weather radar showed fireworks-canceling Tropical Storm Arthur en route, so Jack and I took a morning hike today. What a difference the time of day makes.
The Ripening.
Lots of birds around, including some I haven’t seen so often since spring, including: Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (female), Black-and-white Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Heard a bluebird singing, and a nuthatch, and a Field Sparrow. Saw an Osprey out toward the bay. Found a bunch of ripe blueberries along the side of the trail and ate a dozen or so. Yum.
Also saw the season’s first blooming Wood Lilies. Heard the subtle peeps of an Alder Flycatcher near its nest, as well as the not-so-subtle voices of yellowthroats and towhees.
No Indigo Bunting today, although I looked.
Tonight it’s been raining pretty steadily, but that didn’t deter the neighbor from setting off a bunch of fireworks. More weather coming, too, but that’s cool.
In thinking of flag and country and patriotism today, I was reminded of my favorite words on the subject, written by Texas naturalist Roy Bedichek in a 1940 letter to his friend, Texas folklorist J. Frank Dobie:
“I have threatened several times to write a philosophic article on the value of such articles as you write in developing patriotism—and I mean patriotism, that is, love of country (and by country, I mean country, rocks, soil, creeks, rivers, hills, and valleys) not flag and a lot of gaseous intangibles. There is no patriotism without love of your physical environment just as there is no romantic love without the love of the physical body of some individual woman.”
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 10:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Purple Finch
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. American Redstart
4. Tufted Titmouse (v)
5. American Robin (v)
6. Chestnut-sided Warbler
7. Cedar Waxwing
8. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
9. Common Yellowthroat**
10. Chipping Sparrow (v)
11. Blue Jay (v)
12. Black-and-white Warbler (v)
13. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
14. Song Sparrow**
15. Gray Catbird
16. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
17. Yellow Warbler (v)
18. Eastern Bluebird (v)
19. Eastern Towhee
20. Savannah Sparrow
21. Herring Gull*
22. Field Sparrow (v)
23. Osprey*
24. American Crow* (v)
25. Alder Flycatcher (v)
26. Ovenbird** (v)
27. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
Elsewhere
28. House Sparrow
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, chestnut-sided warblerc, chipping sparrow, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, field sparrow, gray catbird, herring gull, house sparrow, osprey, ovenbird, purple finch, red-eyed vireo, rose-breasted grosbeak, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow warbler, yellow-bellied sapsucker
