An overcast morning with temps a bit above freezing and a smattering of drizzle and flurries. But despite the weather, many bird species made themselves heard before we’d proceeded a hundred yards or so up the trail. Over time, the numbers declined—and I broke me multi-day streak of 19 spp. (18 today)—but still a nice day of hiking and birding and being outside.
Notable might’ve been a grackle flyover and a Killdeer flyover (two), but otherwise no firsts-of-year today. Those will come soon enough, though.
Tomorrow will be sun.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7 a.m. sun time (8 stupid DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay (v) 2. American Crow* 3. American Goldfinch** 4. Tufted Titmouse (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee** 6. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 7. Downy Woodpecker** 8. Red-breasted Nuthatch 9. White-breasted Nuthatch** 10. American Robin** 11. Herring Gull* (v) 12. Eastern Bluebird 13. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 14. Song Sparrow** 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler 16. Northern Cardinal** (v) 17. Common Grackle (v) 18. Killdeer
Elsewhere
19. Mourning Dove 20. House Sparrow (v) 21. Hairy Woodpecker
Mammals
Eastern Chimpunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
This morning dawned mostly clear with light winds and temperatures right around freezing. What with the sun’s brightness, I had hopes of some decent photos for a change—and I got a few.
Notable was a singing Brown Creeper right by the wooded trailhead. Also singing were chickadees, robins, titmice, Song Sparrows, and bluebirds. The bluebirds were apparently laying claim to a couple of bird boxes, and a yellow-rump posed nearby for photos.
Every day lately has affirmed the certainty of spring. I do love this wet, moist, liquid time of year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:43 a.m. sun time (7:43 dumb time), I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay 2. Northern Cardinal** (v) 3. Brown Creeper 4. White-breasted Nuthatch 5. Eastern Bluebird 6. American Crow* 7. Tufted Titmouse** (v) 8. Black-capped Chickadee** 9. Mallard* 10. Downy Woodpecker** (v) 11. American Goldfinch** 12. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 13. American Robin** 14. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 15. Herring Gull* (v) 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 17. Song Sparrow** 18. Yellow-rumped Warbler 19. Northern Flicker (v)
Elsewhere
20. Mourning Dove 21. Wild Turkey
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
As forecast, it snowed a little overnight. But after that, at least down here near the coast, it drizzled, sprinkled, rained. Up on Beech Hill, though, there was a tad more snow—maybe two inches total. But the temperature was nearly 40° (F) when we hit the hill, so things felt more watery than snowy.
But, man, were there birds. Nothing too outlandish, no first-of-years, but many species. Something like fourteen spedies by the time we left the parking lot.
On up the hill, not to many others—and no bluebirds for a change—but down in the woods, as dog and I descended on the trail where it gets fluid and muddy, I said aloud to Jack, “There might be a woodcock down here.” Didn’t scan the trail, however, so when I flushed it, right away I felt like an idiot.
At least I called out the little guy.
Nineteen species again this morning—a number I’ve hit a few times this spring. Looking forward to another cool hike tomorrow. (Will I hit twenty?)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:47 a.m. real time (8:47 DST time), I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay 2. Northern Cardinal 3. American Crow 4. Mourning Dove 5. Tufted Titmouse 6. Dark-eyed Junco 7. Black-capped Chickadee 8. Downy Woodpecker 9. Hairy Woodpecker 10. Red-bellied Woodpecker 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Song Sparrow 13. American Goldfinch 14. American Robin 15. Herring Gull 16. American Woodcock 17. Pileated Woodpecker 18. White-breasted Nuthatch 19. Eastern Bluebird
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
