The forecast called for cloudy skies until afternoon, when scattered thundershowers were possible. In fact, soon after dog and I started up the main trail, it began to rain. Not a gully-washer, just a regular rain shower. The morning was warm enough, with not much wind, and it felt pretty great.
We only did half a hike, though, and so today’s list has far fewer species than usual. And tonight brings a chance of thundershowers. No thunder yet, though.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:52 a.m. EST (7:52 DST), I hiked the open trail.
1. Eastern Phoebe 2. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 3. American Crow (v) 4. Ovenbird (v) 5. American Robin 6. Song Sparrow 7. Eastern Bluebird 8. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 9. American Goldfinch (v) 10. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 11. Eastern Towhee (v) 12. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 13. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 14. Common Yellowthroat 15. Yellow Warbler (v) 16. Gray Catbird (v)
Elsewhere
17. Northern Cardinal (v) 18. Pine Warbler (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
In the cool 60s (F) this morning, with another low layer of fog obscuring things. Soon after Captain Jack and I began our ascent (via the main trail) a light rain began to fall. It didn’t rain for long—but we remained wet while walking through that cloud.
Quite a few birds species, nevertheless—among them a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak with a couple of moths in its beak. A singing Veery also posed, but it’s hard to get an award-winning photo in such dark, dim, gray conditions.
Down on the wooded trail, I heard distant thunder and figured we’d better pick up our pace. But after a few more rumbles, the thunder stopped, and it began to rain lightly again as we descended.
I suppose the thunder was a preview of what’s forecast for tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:12 a.m. EST (8:12 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Mourning Dove 2. Chestnut-sided Warbler 3. Red-eyed Vireo 4. American Robin 5. Song Sparrow 6. Northern Cardinal 7. American Crow 8. American Goldfinch 9. Ovenbird 10. Black-throated Green Warbler 11. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 12. Cedar Waxwing 13. Common Yellowthroat 14. Gray Catbird 15. Eastern Towhee 16. Northern Parula 17. Blue Jay 18. Black-capped Chickadee 19. Yellow Warbler 20. Downy Woodpecker 21. Hermit Thrush 22. Eastern Wood-pewee 23. White-breasted Nuthatch 24. Veery 25. American Redstart 26. Black-and-white Warbler 27. Northern Flicker 28. Brown Creeper
Elsewhere
29. Rock Pigeon 30. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Warm to start under mostly cloudy skies—about room temperature out. Light winds, drier than in recent days. Thunderstorms forecast for this evening, though, so coming days will be wetter.
Invasive Brown-tailed Moths litter the trails these days—I suppose they live short lives in the moth stage, just long enough to lay eggs. The caterpillars really got me this year.
Birds were active, despite (perhaps because of?) the overcast. Most notable were a raven, a gull, and a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird. (I’d rather have a brown-headed critter than a brown-tailed one any ol’ day.)
Might get wet tomorrow, dog and I. We shall see!
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:06 a.m. EST (8:06 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 2. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 3. Ovenbird** 4. Tufted Titmouse (v) 5. Eastern Phoebe 6. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 7. American Goldfinch 8. Brown Creeper (v) 9. Veery (v) 10. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 11. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 12. Black-capped Chickadee** 13. Blue Jay (v) 14. Hermit Thrush (v) 15. Scarlet Tanager (v) 16. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 17. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 18. Gray Catbird** 19. Common Yellowthroat 20. American Robin* 21. Song Sparrow 22. American Crow* (v) 23. Yellow Warbler 24. Eastern Towhee (v) 25. Eastern Bluebird 26. Cedar Waxwing 27. Field Sparrow (v) 28. Purple Finch (v) 29. Mourning Dove (v) 30. Chestnut-sided Warbler 31. Downy Woodpecker (v) 32. Savannah Sparrow (v)
Elsewhere
33. Mallard 34. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
