A foggy start to a sweet morning of birding. Dog and I got a bit later start, and things were quiet at first. But a lot of the fog burned away within the hour, and birds began to sing, and one of them was a Prairie Warbler.
I love Prairie Warblers. I first heard—then saw—one near Beech Hill Road several years ago. Their song is amazing, a buzzy collection of rising notes.
Heard this one pretty far down in the barrens, and figured I wouldn’t manage a peek, but the bird kept flitting off quite a distance and singing from another tree. Remarkably, as we began to descend toward Beech hill Road, I heard the bird singing quite close—and spied it atop a trail-side birch. Got a couple photos and a video.
It’s mornings like this that give credence to my mantra: “Birding improves your life.”
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:42 a.m., I hiked all trails.
Yet another wondrously engaging ramble around Beech Hill. Still remembering—finding places where I saw various birds or bird behaviors—and yet soaking up the smells and feels (the dewy air) and sounds of coastal birds of the 44th parallel.
Hard to choose a highlight from today, there were so many sweet moments. I suppose (ironically) it might’ve been when I spied a white-tail staring up at us from a tangle of little trees.
Already looking forward to our hike in the morning.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:26 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Northern Cardinal* 2. American Goldfinch 3. American Crow* 4. Eastern Towhee 5. Northern Flicker (v) 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Blue Jay (v) 8. Black-and-white Warbler 9. Tufted Titmouse 10. White-breasted Nuthatch 11. Downy Woodpecker** 12. Herring Gull* (v) 13. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 14. White-throated Sparrow (v) 15. Field Sparrow (v) 16. Turkey Vulture 17. Chipping Sparrow** 18. Eastern Bluebird 19. Gray Catbird (v) 20. Song Sparrow** 21. American Robin 22. Broad-winged Hawk 23. Red-breasted Nuthatch 24. Eastern Phoebe* (v) 25. Yellow-rumped Warbler 26. Tree Swallow 27. Savannah Sparrow (v) 28. Blue-headed Vireo (v) 29. Common Raven
Elsewhere
30. Mallard 31. European Starling 32. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
White-tailed Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A light overcast burned away first thing, and the early woods were alive with birdsong. No new migrants, and not as many species as yesterday, but every bit as thrilling. Dog and I spent two hours on the hill, flushed a grouse, got between two calling Pileated Woodpeckers—and just generally enjoyed the heck out of this day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
