Song Sparrow.
Met a small, flitty, secretive Song Sparrow at Beech Nut today. The bird seemed impossibly slim and fleet—but that’s only because it was surely determined to completely disappear in the brown grass. Birds are skittish that way when they first arrive north in spring.
Pussy willow.
Also saw a great flock of grackles circling a leafless hardwood that they ended up perching in. I was in my truck, at a stop sign.
Drippy today, but luscious.
I never imagined I’d be so joyful at the arrival of tick season.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Northern Flicker
2. Tufted Titmouse (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. Downy Woodpecker
5. White-breasted Nuthatch
6. Red-breasted Nuthatch
7. Northern Cardinal*
8. American Crow (v)
9. Song Sparrow†
Elsewhere
10. House Finch (v)
11. Herring Gull
12. Mourning Dove
13. Common Grackle†
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, common grackle, downy woodpecker, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
