A balmy morning on a day of warm sunshine, high humidity, and a top temperature in the low 80s (F). Brought extra water for Captain Jack, who panted a lot nevertheless.
Quite a few birds—but certainly fewer than had it not been so summery. Fewer individuals of fewer species. But along came one nice surprise: An American Woodcock that appeared on the trail in front of us actually stopped to pose for a photo.
I think that’s one of at most four or five woodcock pics I’ve ever taken—possibly even the best. Thanks, Mr. Timberdoodle!
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:17 a.m. EST (8:17 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Eastern Phoebe** 2. Northern Cardinal** (v) 3. American Goldfinch 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 5. Veery (v) 6. Red-eyed Vireo 7. Ovenbird 8. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 9. American Crow* (v) 10. Black-capped Chickadee 11. Song Sparrow 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Field Sparrow (v) 14. Yellow Warbler 15. American Robin* 16. Gray Catbird 17. Eastern Towhee 18. Cedar Waxwing 19. Northern Flicker (v) 20. Blue Jay** (v) 21. Hermit Thrush (v) 22. Eastern Wood-pewee 23. Brown Creeper (v) 24. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 25. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 26. Hairy Woodpecker 27. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 28. Chipping Sparrow (v) 29. American Woodcock
Elsewhere
30. Mallard 31. Herring Gull 32. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Another foggy morning hike, which dog and I began at the main trailhead—opposite side of the hill from the scene of the toppling of the mama maple. Despite the dim light and dewy atmosphere, a bunch of birds made their presence known (mostly by voice). Many were tending to young ones.
Most notable perhaps was the pair of Northern Flickers that appeared in the woods on the opposite sides of the same dead tree.
And rather amazing was the fact that the talented, responsive staff of Coastal Mountains Land Trust had made such quick work of clearing the trail of the remnants of the age-old maple tree.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:09 a.m. EST (8:09 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Eastern Phoebe** 2. Northern Cardinal (v) 3. American Goldfinch** 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 5. Veery (v) 6. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 7. Ovenbird (v) 8. American Crow* (v) 9. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 10. Northern Parula (v) 11. Song Sparrow 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 14. Field Sparrow 15. Yellow Warbler 16. Mourning Dove* 17. American Robin* 18. Gray Catbird** 19. Eastern Towhee** 20. Cedar Waxwing 21. Northern Flicker 22. Blue Jay (v) 23. Hermit Thrush (v) 24. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 25. Brown Creeper (v) 26. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 27. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 28. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 29. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 30. Black-and-white Warbler**
Elsewhere
31. Mallard 32. Herring Gull 33. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk White-tailed Deer American Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
The prognosticators were right: fog this morning. Not real warm, but warm enough to feel the impressive humidity of the air. And the birds—many more birds than just a couple months ago—didn’t seem to mind.
Many more birds because of reproduction, of course. And still the mission of keeping all those fledglings safe and healthy is in the misty air.
I often wonder just how many more birds are fluttering around at this time of year than there were at, say, the beginning of May. Twice as many? Three times as many? More?
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:49 a.m. EST (8:49 DST), I hiked all trails.
