Savannah sparrow on the peak of Beech Nut.
A brilliant, cool morning. Birds singing early—mourning dove, crow, cardinal, finch, sparrow. While doing breakfast dishes, I happened to see an especially bright coppery northern flicker fly across the parking lot toward my window. The day soon grew warm and summery.
I’d planned a bike ride and had already changed into my jersey when I noticed a sudden overcast and a high wind. Stepped out for a moment and changed my mind. Which wasn’t a bad idea, considering it soon began to rain lightly. Grabbed Jack and we took care of some Friday errands via pickup. Town birds in town.
Wild geranium?
After the little wave of rain blew through, dog and I set off for our usual Beech Hill hike along the wooded trails. Wind was still rushing in the thick canopy. Plenty of warblers and thrushes calling—but it’s apparent that most hillside birds are in a furtive mode these late spring days, guarding eggs or hatchlings. The yellowthroats were calling from full cover. Catbirds flitted warily between low trees. (In fact, I heard what sounded like the hatchling of a couple days ago back home hollering from a thicket and got to wondering if it was a young catbird I’d seen.) I didn’t see the Beech Nut phoebes—but I did spot the savannah sparrow on the peak of the sod roof.
Coming back down the lower trail, I heard crows shouting at something behind us above the trees. Then came the croak of a raven.
Ovenbirds in the thicker woods, but not so vocal as they used to be. Not as long a list as usual today, in fact. It gets that way at this solstitial time of year.
Tonight, for the third straight night (I might’ve forgotten to mention this before), I caught sight of the flashing light of a solitary firefly high in the big oak trees. I kind of doubt it’s the same beetle, though.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. Chestnut-sided warbler (voice)
2. Red-eyed vireo (voice)
3. Hermit thrush (voice)
4. Common yellowthroat
5. American redstart (voice)
6. Eastern towhee
7. Veery (voice)
8. Yellow warbler (voice)
9. Alder flycatcher (voice)
10. American crow
11. Gray catbird
12. Song sparrow (voice)
13. Savannah sparrow
14. Mourning dove
15. American robin (voice)
16. Common raven (voice)
17. Ovenbird (voice)
18.Black-capped chickadee (voice)
Elsewhere
19. House finch
20. Northern cardinal
21. Eastern phoebe
22. Northern flicker
23. Herring gull
24. European starling
25. Rock pigeon
26. Blue jay
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American redstart, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, chestnut-sided warbler, common raven, common yellowthroat, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, European starling, firefly, gray catbird, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, veery, yellow warbler
