This morning dawned hazy clear, with temps about freezing and hardly any wind. I expected some bluebirds maybe, but maybe not much else—and I was kinda wrong on both counts. For one thing, the number of species started rising quickly; for another, no bluebirds until we’d started back up over the hill.
Notable were junco, loon, and Red-shouldered Hawk, but most interesting was the number of yellow-rumps.
Yellow-rumped Warblers have been hanging around all winter. They seem to like to hang out with bluebirds. Today was no exception: returning over the summit, we encountered four bluebirds and four ’rumps. It’s fun for me to try to imagine how come these two species like to hang out together.
Otherwise, at home early, I heard (then spied) a gang of five redwings. Spring is most definitely here.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:12 a.m. (8:12 stupid DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Goldfinch** (v)
2. American Robin**
3. Northern Cardinal** (v)
4. American Crow*
5. Black-capped Chickadee**
6. Herring Gull* (v)
7. Dark-eyed Junco (v)
8. Downy Woodpecker** (drumming)
9. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
10. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
11. Common Loon
12. Brown Creeper (v)
13. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
14. Tufted Titmouse (v)
15. Blue Jay** (v)
16. Eastern Bluebird
17. Yellow-rumped Warbler
18. Red-shouldered Hawk
19. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
Elsewhere
20. Mallard
21. Red-winged Blackbird
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown creeper, common loon, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, mallard, northern cardinal, pileated woodpecker, red-breasted nuthatch, red-shouldered hawk, red-winged blackbird, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow-rumped warbler
