Northern parula.
I’m pretty sure the phoebes have abandoned the nest out back. The nest is there, perched above the window, and it looks to be in good shape. But I haven’t seen birds attending it—nor any sitting on it—for a week or more. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, because it can get a little busy out there.
Black-and-white warbler.
The nuthatches, though, are still busy with their cavity. I’ve seen them there pretty much every day, despite the rainy weather.
Speaking of which, thick fog cloaked the landscape again when I first checked this morning. However, within an hour or two, things brightened, and I actually saw shadows. This implausible development prodded me into action, and I got busy with Saturday errands: bottle redemption, trip to the dump, visits to both post offices. Then—in the suddenly warm, humid air, with a hazy sun hanging high—Jack and I kept our daily appointment at Beech Hill.
Warblers right away. In fact, the first four birds I heard singing were warbler species—ovenbird, black-throated green, yellowthroat, parula. In all today, nine warblers at Beech Hill, including a black-throated blue singing its ringing alternate song. (Also heard a redstart back at my place.) Otherwise, the usual suspects: thrushes (robin, veery, hermit, but no wood thrush), rose-breasted grosbeak, catbird, towhee, crow, gull, raven. Oddly, I had no savannah sparrow on my list today. Nor field sparrow. Perhaps this is a silent stretch in their nesting schedule. Meantime, though, I spotted both a blue-headed vireo and a red-eyed—first of the latter I’ve seen there this year.
Ovenbird.
Saw cormorants and an osprey in overflight. Also spotted another hummingbird. Heard a great crested flycatcher. But I got to thinking about two species I’ve missed so far this year: alder flycatcher and cedar waxwing. Because these two appeared on just about every list last year. Unusual. They should’ve made an appearance by now. Have I simply missed them? Did they have a problem during migration? The southern tornadoes, maybe? Something about the BP oil spill? I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears peeled.
I’d worn a hooded sweatshirt, which I had to strip off pretty quick. But just about the time we descended the hill, the sky clouded over again and things grew cool, so I put the sweatshirt back on. Soon it began to mist and dizzle.
Oddly, especially for a Saturday midday, we encountered not a single other human on the hill. Still, I thought thirty-five species a pretty good number of birds for a hike so late in the day.
Tonight, things are about the way they were twenty-four hours ago. Except peepers are singing. And the weather guys are predicting cool, clear conditions for tomorrow.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 11:45 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Ovenbird
2. Black-throated green warbler
3. Common yellowthroat
4. Northern parula
5. American robin
6. Black-capped chickadee
7. Rose-breasted grosbeak
8. Black-and-white warbler
9. Red-eyed vireo
10. Blue-headed vireo
11. Northern flicker
12. Eastern towhee
13. Herring gull
14. Common raven
15. Chestnut-sided warbler
16. Veery
17. Tufted titmouse
18. White-throated sparrow
19. Tree swallow
20. Gray catbird
21. Yellow warbler
22. Song sparrow
23. American goldfinch
24. American crow
25. Song sparrow
26. Eastern phoebe
27. Double-crested cormorant
28. Osprey
29. Nashville warbler
30. White-breasted nuthatch
31. Chipping sparrow
32. Great crested flycatcher
33. Ruby-throated hummingbird
34. Hermit thrush
35. Black-throated blue warbler
Elsewhere
36. House finch
37. House sparrow
38. American redstart
39. Red-winged blackbird
40. Mourning dove
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated blue warbler, black-throated green warbler, blue-headed vireo, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common raven, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, gray catbird, great crested flycatcher, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mourning dove, Nashville warbler, northern flicker, northern parula, osprey, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, red-winged blackbird, rose-breasted grosbeak, ruby-throated hummingbird, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, veery, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, yellow warbler
