It’s nearing the end of May, and the spring greenery has by now burst forth all over the place. This can make birding a little frustrating—more places for the little winged critters to hide—but even so, I somehow ended up with four dozen species on my list this morning. Including three firsts-of-year.
The FOY species: Least Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-pewee, Alder Flycatcher—all favorites (especially the pewee, thanks to its amazing song). At least partly responsible for the nice count: a light southerly wind for a change.
Taking photos can be a challenge what with all the leaves and such, but I rather dig a challenge and expect to get pics of these three at some point.
We’re gonna get an overnight rain which will pass about the time dog and I embark on our Sunday morning hike. Can use the water, though, as it’s been dry. (Then again the dryness might be the reason I haven’t found more deer ticks yet this year.) Bring it on, Nature. I’m looking forward to it.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:21 a.m. sun time (7:21 DST), I hiked all trails.
’Tis the season of the Ovenbird. This perky little terrestrial-nesting warbler—with his stylish orange mohawk—nests in a dutch-oven-style nest of leaves on the sun-dappled forest floor and declares its existence from a tree limb twenty or thirty feet above: Teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher!
They also chase each other with great speed, zipping between trunks, a frantic sort of demonstration of their territorial imperative. But mostly, these mid-May days, their voices echo loudly in the woodlands.
Otherwise notable this lovely (if nippy) morning: a first-of-hill Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Such a fun time of year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:18 a.m. sun time (7:18 DST), I hiked all trails.
Dog and I met friends (dog and human) at the wooded trailhead for an earlier-than-usual hike this morning. It was a lot of fun. Chilly, mostly sunny, and a lot leafier than yesterday.
No firsts-of-year today, but a total of thirty-three species (ten of them warblers), and the fine experience of a fresh new lush spring morning.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 4:40 a.m. sun time (5:50 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Ovenbird** 2. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v) 3. American Goldfinch (v) 4. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 5. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 6. Common Yellowthroat 7. Gray Catbird** 8. Blue Jay 9. Northern Parula (v) 10. American Redstart (v) 11. Eastern Towhee 12. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 13. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 14. Nashville Warbler (v) 15. American Crow* 16. Field Sparrow (v) 17. Veery (v) 18. Chipping Sparrow (v) 19. Song Sparrow (v) 20. Eastern Phoebe (v) 21. Eastern Bluebird 22. Purple Finch (v) 23. Yellow Warbler (v) 24. White-breasted Nuthatch 25. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 26. American Robin 27. Northern Cardinal 28. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 29. Tree Swallow 30. Savannah Sparrow 31. Wood Thrush (v) 32. Tufted Titmouse (v) 33. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v)
Elsewhere
34. Mallard 35. Wild Turkey
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
