American Robin.
Up pretty early. Sunny and cool, with birds about. Got a lot of good work done—and then asked Jack if he wanted to go for a hike. “Yes,” he replied.
Eastern Chipmunk.
By the time we reached Beech Hill, the day was straight-up warm. Quite a few birds about—including first-of-year Chipping Sparrow and Tree Swallow—but no raptors. But that’s OK. There will be raptors.
At home, I got a good look at a bunch of birds, too—including a robin with what looked like a bit of straw stuck in his breast. All I could think of was: “I,” said the sparrow, “with my bow and arrow.”
The tune I had stuck in my head today was the Mickey Mouse Show theme song. Just a little giddy with the anticipation of spring, I guess.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
2. White-breasted Nuthatch* (v)
3. Chipping Sparrow†
4. Eastern Phoebe* (v)
5. American Crow*
6. Tree Swallow†
7. Black-capped Chickadee*
8. Song Sparrow**
9. Herring Gull*
10. Northern Cardinal** (v)
Elsewhere
11. Blue Jay (v)
12. American Goldfinch
13. American Robin
14. Northern Flicker
15. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
16. House Sparrow
17. Rock Pigeon
18. Dark-eyed Junco
19. Mourning Dove
20. Merlin†
21. Bohemian Waxwing
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year species
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, Bohemian waxwing, chipping sparrow, dark-eyed junco, eastern phoebe, herring gull, house sparrow, merlin, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, red-bellied woodpecker, rock pigeon, song sparrow, tree swallow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
