This morning Captain Jack and I led a bird walk along the sunny, warming trails of Beech Hill Preserve. A real good number of folks (twenty-ish?) showed up, and the universe smiled on us.
Right away, birds—and among them, again, plenty of them warblers.
Other noteworthy birds were a pair of calling Broad-winged Hawks, a drumming Pileated Woodpecker, a photogenic kestrel, a plethora of towhees. But for the second straight day, I tallied two first-of-year warblers—a Yellow Warbler, and (my favorite) a Black-throated Blue Warbler. (The latter even posed for a nice photo.)
It was fun to tell a few stories of the hill, to offer a few tips, to recall some humorous bird-related memories. An auspicious day, this 9th of May.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:30 a.m. sun time (7:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
White-throated Sparrows arrived en masse this morning. First sightings on the hill this year (several), and a few at home. Other species beginning to pass through also—Ovenbird, Blue-headed Vireo—and new migrants galore.
The day began fairly warm and ended up in the mid-70s (F). The air smelled pure and clean and fresh.
Lots of insects (good news for warblers). No deer ticks yet, either. Lovely.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 5:40 a.m. real time (6:40 DST), I hiked all trails.
Weather-wise, the morning began overcast and lowery but ended with a half-blue sky and lovely light. Above, more Broad-winged Hawks moving through, and Turkey Vultures. Also a random vee of twenty Double-crested Cormorants (first-of-year birds at Beech Hill).
Crows and ravens and jays and many sparrows. Woodpeckers and finches and thrushes. I could possibly feel content if a day like this one repeated until the day I died.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:45 a.m. real time (7:45 DST), I hiked all trails.
