Thick fog early. Again I didn’t expect much in the way of bird activity—or photos. Again I was wrong.
In fact, I had a first-of-year Blackpoll Warbler. Heard the voice of a Wilson’s Warbler for the first time (at least the first time I can remember). At home, I heard/spied a Tennessee Warbler—first in years.
Just an all around great birding day. Thanks, Nature.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin (v) 2. Ovenbird** 3. Gray Catbird** 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 5. Veery** 6. Scarlet Tanager (v) 7. Hairy Woodpecker 8. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 9. Black-and-white Warbler 10. Common Yellowthroat** 11. Blackpoll Warbler† 12. Eastern Towhee 13. Red-eyed Vireo** 14. Tufted Titmouse* (v) 15. American Redstart 16. American Goldfinch (v) 17. American Crow* 18. Yellow Warbler 19. Field Sparrow 20. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 21. Least Flycatcher 22. Song Sparrow** (v) 23. Common Raven 24. Wilson’s Warbler 25. Chipping Sparrow* 26. Alder Flycatcher (v) 27. Tree Swallow 28. Northern Parula (v) 29. Hermit Thrush (v) 30. Wood Thrush (v) 31. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 32. Blue Jay (v) 33. Ruffed Grouse (drumming) 34. Northern Cardinal* (v) 35. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 36. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 37. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
Elsewhere
38. House Finch 39. Tennessee Warbler† 39. House Sparrow (v) 40. Osprey 41. Mallard 42. Herring Gull
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year bird
Sunny morn. Not too chilly, not too warm. Plenty of birds about also. Quiet and furtive enough to make things interesting—but quick enough to deny me several exquisite photos.
Still I got a couple.
A good day for dog and me.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:15 a.m., I hiked all trails.
Cold and wet morning. Forties (F) and drippy from some overnight precip. Didn’t expect much in the way of birds or photos—but, as often happens, I was pleasantly surprised.
First were all the warblers flitting silently through the leafing-out hardwoods. (Sure enough not a lot of singing going on.) Next came some nice surprises at the misty summit: activity in the spruce grove including a Least Flycatcher, a Yellow Warbler, A Magnolia Warbler, a Wilson’s Warbler—and a first-of-preserve Lincoln’s Sparrow. Pretty sure that was the first of the species I had to ID on my own, in fact.
Sweet.
In all, thirty-six species on a drippy, gray day. I’ll take it.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin* (v) 2. Ovenbird 3. Black-throated Green Warbler 4. American Goldfinch (v) 5. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 6. Hairy Woodpecker 7. American Redstart (v) 8. Veery (v) 9. Gray Catbird (v) 10. Northern Cardinal (v) 11. Herring Gull* (v) 12. Eastern Towhee 13. Rose-breasted Grosbeak* 14. Common Yellowthroat (v) 15. Hermit Thrush (v) 16. Northern Parula (v) 17. Yellow Warbler** 18. Song Sparrow** 19. Eastern Phoebe* (v) 20. Tree Swallow 21. Field Sparrow (v) 22. American Crow (v) 23. Blue Jay (v) 24. Cedar Waxwing 25. Lincoln’s Sparrow† 26. Magnolia Warbler 27. Least Flycatcher 28. Scarlet Tanager (v) 29. Wilson’s Warbler 30. Red-eyed Vireo 31. Northern Flicker (v) 32. Purple Finch (v) 33. Wood Thrush (v) 34. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 35. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 36. Common Raven (v)
Elsewhere
37. House Finch 38. Chipping Sparrow
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year bird.