A mostly overcast, breezy morning with temps in the 50s (F). We got an earlier start than yesterday, dog and I, and the birds seemed especially active—perhaps because they’ve got babies to feed. When the summer solstice approaches, it’s the time nestlings and fledglings.
In the woods, for instance, Ovenbirds were vocally warning us against getting near their nests on the forest floor. And I spied a pair of fledgling chickadees being fed by a parent near the summit. And at the summit proper, in the eaves of Beech Nut, I caught sight of a phoebe with a beak crammed with insect food.
A busy time of year it is, for the bird life. (Likewise, the life of a birder.)
Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:18 a.m. EST (8:18 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
2. Ovenbird**
3. Eastern Phoebe*
4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
5. Eastern Wood-pewee
6. Blue Jay
7. Hairy Woodpecker
8. Northern Cardinal**
9. Veery (v)
10. Black-capped Chickadee
11. Osprey (v)
12. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
13. Black-and-white Warbler (v)
14. American Goldfinch (v)
15. American Crow* (v)
16. Scarlet Tanager (v)
17. Hermit Thrush (v)
18. Tufted Titmouse (v)
19. Eastern Towhee
20. Pileated Woodpecker (drumming)
21. Chestnut-sided Warbler
22. American Redstart**
23. Alder Flycatcher (v)
24. Gray Catbird**
25. Song Sparrow**
26. Yellow Warbler (v)
27. Chipping Sparrow (v)
28. Prairie Warbler (v)
29. American Robin* (v)
30. Turkey Vulture*
31. Cedar Waxwing
32. Purple Finch (v)
33. Common Yellowthroat (v)
34. Field Sparrow (v)
35. Eastern Bluebird
36. Red-winged Blackbird (v)
37. Northern Parula (v)
38. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
Elsewhere
39. Mallard
40. Herring Gull
41. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
American Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: alder flycatcher, American crow, American goldfinch, American red squirrel, American redstart, American robin, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, blue jay, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common yellowthroat, eastern bluebird, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, field sparrow, gray catbird, hairy woodpecker, hermit thrush, herring gull, house sparrow, mallard, northern cardinal, northern parula, osprey, ovenbird, pileated woodpecker, prairie warbler, purple finch, red-eyed vireo, red-winged blackbird, rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanager, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, veery, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow warbler
