These days, birds are raising their families. Like the pair of Common Yellowthroats Jack and I came upon early during our late-afternoon hike at Beech Hill Preserve today. The female had apparently been bringing a juicy green caterpillar back to a young-un when we happened to pass by, so she turned her attention on us, chipping and flitting. The male popped up, too, but farther away. I got a couple photos.
Farther up the hill, I heard sparrows singing: towhee, song, Savannah. Got a shot of a song sparrow living up to its name.
Also saw a couple gulls sail over. And a solitary raven flew lazily by—lazily, that is, until it drew the attention of a batch of crows down the southern slope. At a single blueberry.
Warm, breezy, and fairly quiet up there today. Summer
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Song Sparrow*
2. Cedar Waxwing
3. Eastern Towhee
4. Chipping Sparrow** (v)
5. Common Yellowthroat**
6. American Redstart
7. Northern Flicker (v)
8. American Robin* (v)
9. Yellow Warbler (v)
10. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
11. American Crow*
12. Savannah Sparrow
13. Herring Gull*
14. American Goldfinch
15. Mourning Dove*
16. Common Raven
17. Gray Catbird (v)
18. Ovenbird** (v)
Elsewhere
19. House Finch (v)
20. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
21. Tufted Titmouse (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-throated green warbler, Cedar waxwing, chipping sparrow, common raven, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern flicker, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, yellow warbler



