A wonderfully overcast day. I love sunny days, of course, and snowy winter days, and days of every other kind of skies—but every so often comes a special overcast that seems to me protective, like a blanket. This was one of those.
What’s more, lots of birds—including a couple of firsts-of-year: Red-eyed Vireo and Great Crested Flycatcher. (Also a two firsts elsewhere.) And plenty of other resident species have yet to arrive, which makes for the certainty of near-future excitement.
Also had the honor of holding a Red-bellied Snake, for a moment, gently. The snake was another first of year.
The trails were dry this morning for the first time in a while, but a few overnight rain showers are forecast, then sun tomorrow. Already imagining what sort of day it’ll be.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:18 a.m. sun time (7:18 DST), I hiked all trails.
The sky was clear and blue when dog and I arrived at the main trailhead parking lot. We met friends (human and dog) for this hike, and it was an amazing morning.
Not only sociable, but full of late-April birds.
Most notable might’ve been the Winter Wren singing down along the lower wooded trail. Or perhaps the raven flying over with what appeard to be a mouse or vole in its beak. Or the swallows, bluebirds, sparrow species, drumming woodpecker.
Most memorable to me now, hours later, was the blue, blue morning sky.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:01 a.m. real time (8:01 DST), I hiked most trails.
1. Northern Cardinal** (v) 2. Tufted Titmouse (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 5. American Robin 6. Chipping Sparrow 7. Song Sparrow** 8. American Crow* 9. American Goldfinch (v) 10. Herring Gull* 11. Eastern Bluebird 12. Field Sparrow 13. Turkey Vulture 14. Eastern Towhee** 15. Tree Swallow 16. Common Raven 17. Savannah Sparrow 18. Eastern Phoebe 19. Yellow-rumped Warbler 20. Dark-eyed Junco 21. Pine Warbler (v) 22. Winter Wren (v) 23. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 24. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
25. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A day very much like yesterday—but without yesterday’s rain. This morning, dog and I encountered water in the form of a thick fog (and streams running down the trails). But unlike yesterday, birds were vocal and active.
Never would I have imagined I’d end with more than two dozen species on my list. No first-of-year species, but everything from a Mallard (voice only, flying over) to a first-of-year-singing Savannah Sparrow (my favorite sparrow).
The sparrow was especially fun. I simply love its sibilant, insect-like song—which carries so far. Even in a thick fog.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:02 a.m. real time (8:02 DST), I hiked all trails.
