Was supposed to rain much of this morning, but when I checked the weather radar, I only saw a few green patches. It was raining lightly when dog and I got to the trailhead, but within about twenty minutes, it’d stopped, and the rest of our hike happened in nearly calm air under a misty overcast. And birds showed up. Not as many as yesterday, but lots.
I heard the voices of youngsters, saw adults with beaks full of insect parts, saw a chipmunk that looked like somebody’s grandpa.
Most notable, however, might’ve been the vireo that posed for me.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:47 a.m. EST (7:47 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Ovenbird** 2. Red-eyed Vireo 3. Chestnut-sided Warbler 4. Northern Parula (v) 5. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 6. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 7. Song Sparrow 8. Veery 9. American Goldfinch 10. American Crow* 11. Eastern Towhee** 12. Alder Flycatcher (v) 13. American Redstart 14. Gray Catbird** 15. Yellow Warbler (v) 16. Eastern Phoebe 17. Black-capped Chickadee** 18. Black-and-white Warbler 19. Tufted Titmouse** 20. American Robin* 21. Cedar Waxwing 22. Hermit Thrush 23. Scarlet Tanager (v) 24. Common Yellowthroat (v) 25. Field Sparrow (v) 26. Eastern Bluebird 27. Blue Jay (v) 28. Turkey Vulture
Elsewhere
29. Mallard 30. Herring Gull 31. Rock Pigeon 32. Merlin
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
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.
The overnight rain came heavily and steadily, but it’d most moved away by this morning. Dog and I waited to start up the trail until the rain had passed. Although the trees were drippy, we didn’t get very wet—and despite the overcast I managed a few decent photos.
Most notable this morning was a miss: a bright yellow-orange songbird flitting in some shady undergrowth around a stone wall along Beech Hill Road. I feel sure it was an oriole, but I couldn’t manage a pic or good look.
Supposed to clear up some tomorrow. And a couple days after that, summer will arrive.
Beech Hill List Starting at 9:00 a.m. EST (10:00 DST), I hiked all trails.
