Morning Dove.
Took to the hill early this comparatively balmy morning. Got up into the fifties (F) today. What stood out to me up there today was the fact that birds are pairing off—mourning doves, robins.
Also, while peering through my pair of binocs at distant black flappers against the inland hills, working out whether they were ravens or crows (crows), a smaller bird flew by my field of view, its bright red epaulets flashing in the sun. I never would’ve seen that distant blackbird in a million years had I not been gazing through glass.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 9:30 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. American Goldfinch (v)
3. American Crow*
4. Northern Cardinal (v)
5. Mourning Dove*
6. Red-tailed Hawk
7. Song Sparrow** (v)
8. Eastern Phoebe
9. Red-winged Blackbird†
10. American Robin* (v)
Elsewhere
11. House Finch (v)
12. Herring Gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, eastern phoebe, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, red-tailed hawk, red-winged blackbird, song sparrow
