Fresh sapsucker holes.
Rained like in the tropics overnight, thanks to Tropical Storm Arthur, an odd early bird. Welcome to the Anthropocene.
Milkweed.
But it let up fairly early, and I watched out the window by my desk as the roads dried, and the runoff continued, and people began emerging to run Saturday errands. Got quite a bit of work done before taking my daily hike with dog. Getting ready to go, in fact—donning my winter hiking boots for a change (mud)—a few rays of sun began to sneak through the overcast.
Not a big awakening at Beech hill, bird-wise, but interesting nonetheless. The female sapsucker was back, and though I missed taking her portrait, I did document her handiwork. Got glimpses of a couple warblers, a couple sparrows, a chickadee and its youngsters. A mourning dove was pecking about on the trail.
A couple small trees blew over near the parking lot, but that was the only real damage I saw. The milkweed is blooming, as are a few more wood lilies. Ate a handful of blueberries. Heard a flicker’s cry.
All in all, a nice cool Saturday afternoon in July.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Herring Gull*
2. American Redstart (v)
3. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
4. Chipping Sparrow (v)
5. Cedar Waxwing
6. Black-capped Chickadee
7. Eastern Towhee
8. American Robin
9. Chestnut-sided Warbler
10. American Goldfinch
11. American Crow* (v)
12. Common Yellowthroat**
13. Song Sparrow**
14. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
15. Mourning Dove*
16. Savannah Sparrow
17. Yellow Warbler (v)
18. Northern Flicker (v)
Elsewhere
19. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
20. Mallard
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, herring gull, mallard, mourning dove, northern flicker, pileated woodpecker, red-eyed vireo, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, yellow warbler, yellow-bellied sapsucker
