Another in a string of fair, cool mornings. When much of the rest of the country is suffering through heat waves and droughts and fires and flooding, dog and I are particularly lucky in these challenging days.
Plus, I had thirty bird species on my list today. Notable: a gull in the woods (?), first Hermit Thrush in a while, first Veery in a while, first Ovenbird in a while, first Savannah Sparrow in a while. The latter, in particular rather thrilled me.
What a lovely morning. To be followed by a day of rain—or so they say.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. American Crow 3. Red-eyed Vireo 4. Red-bellied Woodpecker 5. Ovenbird 6. Herring Gull 7. Brown Creeper 8. Hermit Thrush 9. White-breasted Nuthatch 10. Tufted Titmouse 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Eastern Towhee 13. Veery 14. Gray Catbird 15. American Goldfinch 16. Hairy Woodpecker 17. Song Sparrow 18. Yellow-rumped Warbler 19. Purple Finch 20. Common Yellowthroat 21. Savannah Sparrow 22. Field Sparrow 23. Cedar Waxwing 24. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 25. Yellow Warbler 26. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 27. Eastern Phoebe 28. Blue Jay 29. Least Flycatcher 30. Northern Flicker
Elsewhere
31. Northern Cardinal 32. Carolina Wren
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
This morning was much like yesterday morning: beautiful, cool (but not quite as cool), clear (but not quite as clear), and birdy (actually birdier).
Three woodpecker species, another tail-flicking Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Brown Creepers, another grosbeak, and a whole mess of waxwings. Nuthatches, four wood-warblers—just a real fun excursion.
Also had visits with a couple nice humans and dogs up there. (The hill is where our social life is, dog and me.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked all trails.
What a cool morning. Absolutely coool—both literally and figuratively.
It was about 53° (F) when dog and I arrived at the trailhead, and the sky was cloudless. There was a teeny little breeze. Earth’s average temperature is in the 50s, and it just seemed, well, right.
Few birds to start, but I had a feeling. And the feeling paid off. Among the 26 species encountered this morning were the first Field Sparrows in a while, the first Rose-breasted Grosbeak in even longer, and a good variety of other species.
Every day I say aloud, “I love this day.” Today I didn’t even have to say it (but I did).
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee** 2. American Crow* 3. American Goldfinch (v) 4. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 5. Blue Jay (v) 6. White-breasted Nuthatch 7. Brown Creeper (v) 8. Tufted Titmouse 9. Eastern Wood-pewee 10. Red-eyed Vireo 11. Downy Woodpecker 12. Gray Catbird (v) 13. Eastern Towhee 14. Common Yellowthroat 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler 16. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 17. White-throated Sparrow 18. Cedar Waxwing 19. Eastern Phoebe 20. Song Sparrow 21. Field Sparrow 22. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 23. Northern Cardinal (v) 24. Turkey Vulture* 25. Osprey 26. Hairy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
27. Mourning Dove 28. Herring Gull 29. Rock Pigeon 30. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
