A morning much like yesterday’s, only a mite cooler and not quite as much wind. Nor quite as many bird species—but close!
First-of-year bird: Carolina Wren singing down by the wooded trailhead. Other encounters of note: five woodpecker species, mating bluebirds, an active Tree Swallow, a grouse that might’ve had chicks, an Osprey with a fish, a white-tail bounding through the woods.
The landscape has dried up a lot lately—alarmingly so. No deer ticks, true, but not as much water as there should be. However, rain is in the forecast for the days ahead.
As are many more first-of-year species.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:27 a.m. real time (7:27 DST), I hiked all trails.
Warmer than forecast. Sunnier, too. Light winds. Many, many birds.
A year’s record thirty-three species today—including first-of-year Pine Warbler and Chipping Sparrow. Among non-bird critters: garter snake and tiger beetles. Leaves barely beginning to unfurl. It does seem rather too dry for the season (although this keeps the tick numbers down), but rain is in the near forecast. Also heard my first singing Hermit Thrush.
(In afternoon, I rode my bicycle for the first time this year. Felt sooo good.)
Tomorrow’s supposed to be at least as warm and calm. Wonder what’ll show up then.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:25 a.m. real time (7:25 DST), I hiked all trails.
Another warm, albeit less windy, mostly blue-sky morning. Birds were active, singing, calling, drumming, flitting around. Many Palm Warblers, a pair of kestrels at the summit, and first-of-year Field Sparrow and Tree Swallows.
Each day lately I’ve been trying to imagine what species will appear next. So far, I’ve predicted a few. What now? White-throat? Chippie? Broad-wing?
Can hardly wait until another lovely morning tomorrow to find out.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:34 a.m. real time (7:34 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Song Sparrow** 2. Eastern Phoebe* 3. Common Raven 4. Tufted Titmouse** (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee* 6. American Robin 7. Brown Creeper 8. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 9. Palm Warbler 10. Downy Woodpecker 11. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 12. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 13. Northern Cardinal** (v) 14. American Goldfinch (v) 15. American Crow* 16. Eastern Bluebird 17. Yellow-rumped Warbler 18. Field Sparrow† 19. Mourning Dove 20. Tree Swallow† 21. Brown-headed Cowbird 22. Herring Gull* 23. Red-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 24. Red-winged Blackbird 25. American Kestrel 26. Common Loon (v) 27. Turkey Vulture
Elsewhere
28. Mallard 29. House Finch (v) 30. House Sparrow (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
