Yellow-rumped warbler.
Gray and damp early, but then the clouds blew away and the air warmed up. Ah, finally—a warm spring day.
Worked until mid-afternoon, then cycled around for about an hour, hearing (and seeing) several birds, including a first-of-year chippie. Great, great ride. Soon after my return, I grabbed Jack and we hiked up the wooded Beech Hill trail.
Osprey.
Not a load of birds, what with the warmth and brightness of afternoon. But I did still see the thrushes, the yellow-rumps, and the kestrels. At least three kestrels again today, and I saw one hover, dive, and snatch something. A vole, I expect. It took its meal over to an exposed rock and began tearing into it, all the while keeping an eye on me and Jack, watching from maybe fifty yards away.
Then three ospreys flew over—the first so near that I had trouble focusing my camera on it. One had a couple-three tail feathers missing. As I was watching the ospreys whirl and cry, I spotted another raptor zipping low over the summit, very near Beech Nut. It disappeared behind the hill, then emerged and rose and circled. And I saw a second with it. They were northbound broad-wings, I’m pretty sure, judging by the stripes on their tails.
Tonight the full moon rose yellow and round.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Hairy woodpecker (hammering)
2. Eastern phoebe**
3. American crow*
4. Herring gull* (v)
5. Yellow-rumped warbler
6. Black-capped chickadee**
7. Mourning dove*
8. Eastern towhee (v)
9. Turkey vulture
10. American kestrel
11. Osprey
12. Broad-winged hawk
13. Northern cardinal** (v)
14. Hermit thrush (v)
15. American robin*
Elsewhere
16. House finch (v)
17. European starling (v)
18. Song sparrow (v)
19. Tufted titmouse (v)
20. Chipping sparrow† (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, American kestrel, American robin, black-capped chickadee, broad-winged hawk, chipping sparrow, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, European starling, hairy woodpecker, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, osprey, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, yellow-rumped warbler
