Crown and raven.
Up on on the hill early today. A cloudless, chilly morning. Birds awaited.
I recorded the most daily species all year, in fact—including a number of first-of-year birds (including ruby-throated kinglet, field sparrow, and Savannah sparrow). Heard a couple of birds I didn’t recognize, too, so probably the total exceeded the thirty-two on my list. Migrants flooding northward, their songs are ringing down the barren hillsides, that familiar spring excitement.
Yellow-rumps flitting through. A kestrel on the sod roof of Beech Nut. But the most excitement came after I heard the croak of a raven and looked up to see the big black bird being harassed by a smaller black crow. Several times I’ve watched ravens fly upside-down, but it never ceases to amaze.
Chilly and starry tonight.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American robin* (v)
2. Hermit thrush
3. Eastern phoebe**
4. Black-capped chickadee**
5. Wild turkey (v)
6. White-breasted nuthatch** (v)
7. Ruffed grouse (booming)
8. American crow*
9. Eastern towhee (v)
10. Northern flicker
11. Mourning dove* (v)
12. Yellow-rumped warbler
13. Ruby-throated kinglet†
14. Song sparrow**
15. Blue jay** (v)
16. American kestrel
17. Tufted titmouse** (v)
18. Field sparrow†
19. Greater yellowlegs (v)
20. American goldfinch** (v)
21. Tree swallow (v)
22. White-throated sparrow (v)
23. Downy woodpecker (v)
24. Dark-eyed junco (v)
25. Northern cardinal** (v)
26. Common raven
27. Savannah sparrow†
28. Turkey vulture
29. Golden-crowned kinglet (v)
30. Herring gull* (v)
31. Hairy woodpecker (v)
32. Broad-winged hawk (v)
Elsewhere
33. House finch (v)
34. European starling
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American kestrel, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, broad-winged hawk, common raven, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, European starling, field sparrow, golden-crowned kinglet, greater yellowlegs, hairy woodpecker, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, ruby throated kinglet, ruffed grouse, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, wild turkey, yellow-rumped warbler
