Northern shrike.
Warmth. I could feel it before I got out of bed. Also sun (albeit hazy, what with all the water vapor in the air) and calm. And birds.
Wild turkey.
Singing cardinals and song sparrows and house finches. A pair of mallards zipped over. Singing mourning dove and chickadees. Crows, of course. I managed to get dressed and make coffee and a quick breakfast, but then dog and I had to get outside.
Up in the 40s already by the time we got to the still-snowy wooded Beech Hill trail. Not really all that slushy, either, being mostly on the shady side—so we got the benefit of warm air and firm footing. Some pretty icy slopes, though, true. We came upon some robins, heard a pileated woodpecker, and flushed a partridge. Jack, as usual, was the first to spot the turkey. And again on the open hillsides, I caught sight of a lone northern shrike.
Not many people or dogs in the morning up there, but what a luscious spring day it was.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:45 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
3. American Crow*
4. American Robin
5. Mourning Dove* (v)
6. Ruffed Grouse
7. Wild Turkey
8. Northern Flicker
9. Northern Shrike
10. Herring Gull
11. Northern Cardinal** (v)
12. Tufted Titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
13. Mallard
14. House Finch (v)
15. Song Sparrow (v)
16. House Sparrow (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere