Eastern Bluebird (female).
I had occasion to rise early, too cook an early breakfast, and to head out early with Jack for Beech Hill. Heard a junco and a fox sparrow out back. The day was cool but sunny and calm. The slush on the wooded trails remained hard from last night’s freeze—as did the muddy spots, for the most part. Robins everywhere.
Eastern Bluebird (male).
Robins on the wooded trails, dining on staghorn sumac; robins on the open fields foraging for whatever they forage for up there. Robins everywhere.
But we also flushed a woodcock (first-of-year for me), heard the spring songs of chickadees and mourning doves, came upon a male harrier at the eastern wood fringe, and stumbled on a pair of bluebirds on the trailside barrens. I happened to spot the male, perched on a rock. As I took his photo, a female showed up chattering and chased him away. Later I got a photo of the lovely latter bird.
Twenty species in all today. Pretty sure that’s the most so far this year.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin*
2. House Finch** (v)
3. American Crow*
4. Black-capped Chickadee**
5. Mourning Dove
6. American Woodcock
7. American Goldfinch* (v)
8. Brown Creeper (v)
9. Northern Harrier
10. Song Sparrow*
11. Northern Cardinal (v)
12. Eastern Bluebird
13. Blue Jay
14. Herring Gull*
15. Hairy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
16, Tufted Titmouse
17. Dark-eyed Junco (v)
18. Fox Sparrow (v)
19. House Sparrow (v)
20. Rock Dove
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
American Robin.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, American woodcock, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown creeper, dark-eyed junco, fox sparrow, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern harrier, rock dove, song sparrow, tufted titmouse
