Based on the prognosticators’ forecasts, I was convinced dog and I would be hiking in the rain this morning. It was not to be. There were a few teensy drips of drizzle as we started up the trail but beyond that only wind and gray skies—no precipitation at all.
Not too many birds—my guess is they know more rain is coming—but a lovely hike with Captain Jack. (Also Oscar and his mom.)
No first-of-year birds, but May is nearly here. And I know what May means here on the 44th parallel. An influx, let’s just say.
Tomorrow’s rain should peter out about midday. more rain thereafter. Still, we shall hike, as always.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:17 a.m. real time (8:01 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Eastern Towhee 2. Tufted Titmouse (v) 3. Purple Finch** (v) 4. Northern Cardinal** 5. Black-capped Chickadee** 6. American Crow* 7. Blue Jay (v) 8. Chipping Sparrow 9. American Goldfinch (v) 10. Downy Woodpecker (v) 11. American Robin** 12. Common Raven 13. Song Sparrow 14. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 15. Herring Gull* (v) 16. Mallard*
Elsewhere
17. Mourning Dove
Mammals
White-tailed Deer.
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
This morning’s hike with dog happened under mostly blue skies, in mostly calm winds, and amid many, many bird species—thirty-four in all (a record for the year so far.
(Speaking of—exactly a year ago today is when Jack and I arrived back in Maine. Time flies.)
The sky was clear and blue when dog and I arrived at the main trailhead parking lot. We met friends (human and dog) for this hike, and it was an amazing morning.
Not only sociable, but full of late-April birds.
Most notable might’ve been the Winter Wren singing down along the lower wooded trail. Or perhaps the raven flying over with what appeard to be a mouse or vole in its beak. Or the swallows, bluebirds, sparrow species, drumming woodpecker.
Most memorable to me now, hours later, was the blue, blue morning sky.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:01 a.m. real time (8:01 DST), I hiked most trails.
1. Northern Cardinal** (v) 2. Tufted Titmouse (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 5. American Robin 6. Chipping Sparrow 7. Song Sparrow** 8. American Crow* 9. American Goldfinch (v) 10. Herring Gull* 11. Eastern Bluebird 12. Field Sparrow 13. Turkey Vulture 14. Eastern Towhee** 15. Tree Swallow 16. Common Raven 17. Savannah Sparrow 18. Eastern Phoebe 19. Yellow-rumped Warbler 20. Dark-eyed Junco 21. Pine Warbler (v) 22. Winter Wren (v) 23. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 24. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
25. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
