This morning was much like yesterday morning: beautiful, cool (but not quite as cool), clear (but not quite as clear), and birdy (actually birdier).
Three woodpecker species, another tail-flicking Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Brown Creepers, another grosbeak, and a whole mess of waxwings. Nuthatches, four wood-warblers—just a real fun excursion.
Also had visits with a couple nice humans and dogs up there. (The hill is where our social life is, dog and me.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked all trails.
What a cool morning. Absolutely coool—both literally and figuratively.
It was about 53° (F) when dog and I arrived at the trailhead, and the sky was cloudless. There was a teeny little breeze. Earth’s average temperature is in the 50s, and it just seemed, well, right.
Few birds to start, but I had a feeling. And the feeling paid off. Among the 26 species encountered this morning were the first Field Sparrows in a while, the first Rose-breasted Grosbeak in even longer, and a good variety of other species.
Every day I say aloud, “I love this day.” Today I didn’t even have to say it (but I did).
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee** 2. American Crow* 3. American Goldfinch (v) 4. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 5. Blue Jay (v) 6. White-breasted Nuthatch 7. Brown Creeper (v) 8. Tufted Titmouse 9. Eastern Wood-pewee 10. Red-eyed Vireo 11. Downy Woodpecker 12. Gray Catbird (v) 13. Eastern Towhee 14. Common Yellowthroat 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler 16. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 17. White-throated Sparrow 18. Cedar Waxwing 19. Eastern Phoebe 20. Song Sparrow 21. Field Sparrow 22. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 23. Northern Cardinal (v) 24. Turkey Vulture* 25. Osprey 26. Hairy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
27. Mourning Dove 28. Herring Gull 29. Rock Pigeon 30. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
The air was clean and cool and dry, the sky was blue with a few clouds, the breeze was fickle, and the birds were furtive—but present. What a beautiful morning.
Right away a thrush appeared, hopping up the trail. Before long, a couple-three woodpeckers, a crow and a jay, a wood-pewee, nuthatches… At the summit, dog and I met a friend we hadn’t seen in a while, and we had a good, long chat. A swallow showed up—and a very loud military jet (first I recall seeing up there).
And, at the end of our hike, a Blue Jay on a blue sky day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Hermit Thrush 2. Downy Woodpecker (v) 3. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 4. American Crow* (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee** 6. Blue Jay 7. Brown Creeper (v) 8. Eastern Wood-pewee 9. White-breasted Nuthatch** 10. Red-bellied Woodpecker 11. American Redstart 12. Pileated Woodpecker 13. Eastern Towhee 14. Gray Catbird 15. American Goldfinch (v) 16. Yellow-rumped Warbler (v) 17. Eastern Phoebe 18. Song Sparrow** 19. Osprey 20. Turkey Vulture 21. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 22. Tree Swallow
Elsewhere
23. Northern Cardinal (v) 24. Mourning Dove
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
