Not so chilly, not so breezy, and extremely beautiful skies this morning when dog and I hit the trail—early than in recent days. Seemed like it might prove interest, and it did.
First, when listening to chickadees in the woods to the right, I thought I saw some motion to the left of the trail, but when I looked around, saw nothing. A moment later I spied a Snowshoe Hare bounding away. That rabbit was within twelve feet of me, I bet, and I didn’t see it at all.
Next, toward the summit: bluebirds. Then a high flock of some kind of songbird whose voices I didn’t recognize right away—which (when I looked at my quick, blurry photos) turned out to be Evening Grosbeaks. Then, at the summit proper, more bluebirds and a pair of Snow Buntings. And hanging with both, a solitary Yellow-rumped Warbler. Fun!
A raven in flight over the open fields. The voice of a single robin, and a single woodpecker.
I’d do this day over again, if I could—but even better would be another fun one tomorrow.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:02 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. Tufted Titmouse (v)
3. American Crow*
4. Eastern Bluebird
5. Evening Grosbeak
6. Snow Bunting
7. Yellow-rumped Warbler
8. American Goldfinch (v)
9. Common Raven
10. American Robin (v)
11. Downy Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
12. White-breasted Nuthatch
Mammals
Snowshoe Hare
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, common raven, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, evening grosbeak, snow bunting, snowshoehare, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow-rumped warbler