Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Nature likes variety. Wildlife, seasons, weather. Today we had a little break from yesterday’s spectacularly summery weather—a cool, gray day with a spattering of faint rain. Didn’t get out until late, but it worked out fine. A few errands, then a quick hike with Jack.
Blue flag.
Several birds flitting around in the tangles near the parking lot—including the active sapsucker pair. They swoop in from a nest somewhere across the road, make a circuit of their little collection of drilled trunks, then swoop back, occasionally uttering a loud, almost tropical cry. Stand there for three of four minutes, and you’ll see one. Parents of nestlings are creatures of a sort of frenzied routine.
The same routine is going on at the summit, where the phoebes are nesting—and all along the trail between. Song Sparrows, chippies, yellowthroats and other warblers. Towhees, of course. And down in the woods, turkeys, grouse, and woodcock.
Migrants nesting in these parts are on a great adventure; three or four months to assure their species’ survival. It’s kind of an important job.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Eastern Towhee
2. Ovenbird (v)
3. American Redstart**
4. American Goldfinch
5. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
6. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v)
7. Blue Jay (v)
8. Chipping Sparrow (v)
9. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
10. American Crow*
11. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
12. Yellow Warbler** (v)
13. Common Yellowthroat
14. Song Sparrow**
15. Eastern Phoebe
16. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
17. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
18. House Sparrow
19. Herring Gull
20. Rock Pigeon
21. Mallard
22. Common Grackle
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common grackle, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, house sparrow, mallard, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, rose-breasted grosbeak, song sparrow, yellow warbler, yellow-bellied sapsucker
