Yet nippier this morning under clear blue skies. Slight breeze. Quiet in the woodlands—but birds were flitting about in the trees’ still-clinging leaves. But this is the season of low-key migration. Birds moving urgently over and through the landscape, but keenly aware of the dangers. You have to use your eyes as well as your ears.
Notable were the scores of Yellow-rumped Warblers moving through—by far the most abundant species. (And the only warbler.) Also, a pair of ravens flew over. Two nuthatch species. A couple bluebirds.
Perhaps it is my favorite season because of the subtlety—the lurking about, the laying low. Fall birding is a fun challenge, and a rewarding one.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:38 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Yellow-rumped Warbler
2. American Goldfinch
3. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
4. Hairy Woodpecker
5. Common Raven
6. American Robin
7. Black-capped Chickadee
8. Blue Jay (v)
9. Gray Catbird (v)
10. American Crow*
11. Brown Creeper
12. Eastern Towhee (v)
13. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
14. White-throated Sparrow
15. Dark-eyed Junco
16. Northern Flicker
17. Purple Finch
18. Eastern Bluebird (v)
19. Song Sparrow
20. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
21. Tufted Titmouse (v)
22. Red-eyed Vireo
Elsewhere
23. Herring Gull
24. Northern Cardinal (v)
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown creeper, common raven, dark-eyed junco, eastern bluebird, eastern gray squirrel, eastern towhee, gray catbird, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, northern cardinal, northern flicker, purple finch, red-breasted nuthatch, red-eyed vireo, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
