I was prepared for a little rain this morning, but the early weather radar showed that most precipitation was sliding off toward the north. One approaching shower could possibly graze us—but I didn’t mind.
Turns out the shower did graze us, but not for about a half hour. Meantime, the birds were shy, the woods were dark, and the air was cool. Pretty lovely, actually. When the shower did come, it turned into one of the most luscious hikes I can remember. Protected by the thick canopy, yet present for the soothing sound of the rain… Hard to describe. Just wonderful.
And after the rain let up, birds emerged—oriole, woodcock, raven, first restart in a good while.
Was looking forward to sweet rain all week, as forecast, but it seems the forecast has changed. We shall see.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:37 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Hermit Thrush 3. American Crow* (v) 4. Gray Catbird** 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Eastern Wood-pewee 7. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 8. Brown Creeper (v) 9. White-breasted Nuthatch 10. American Robin* 11. Cedar Waxwing 12. American Goldfinch (v) 13. Baltimore Oriole 14. Song Sparrow** 15. Northern Flicker (v) 16. House Finch 17. Mourning Dove* 18. Common Yellowthroat 19. Common Raven (v) 20. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 21. American Woodcock 22. Chestnut-sided Warbler 23. American Redstart 24. Black-throated Green Warbler 25. Tufted Titmouse (v) 26. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
27. Northern Cardinal
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Another balmy, steamy morning hike. Not bad—had plenty of water, encountered plenty of bird species, had a nice chat with an old friend—but we were both a bit tuckered when we got back home, dog and I.
Among notable sightings: a woodcock near the summit, the voice of a raven, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Took a good bike ride this afternoon during a thunderstorm watch (possible heavy rain, quarter-sized hail, 70mph winds)—but none occurred. It being so dry here still, I was kinda rooting for the t-storms.
Looking forward to another hike tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:27 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 3. American Goldfinch 4. American Crow* 5. Common Raven (v) 6. Black-capped Chickadee** 7. Eastern Towhee 8. Hermit Thrush 9. American Redstart (v) 10. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 11. Brown Creeper (v) 12. Wood Thrush (v) 13. American Robin* 14. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 15. Ovenbird (v) 16. Gray Catbird 17. Common Yellowthroat 18. Alder Flycatcher (v) 19. Downy Woodpecker 20. American Woodcock 21. Cedar Waxwing 22. Chestnut-sided warbler (v) 23. Yellow Warbler (v) 24. Eastern Bluebird 26. Purple Finch 27. Red-breasted Nuthatch 28. Song Sparrow** 29. House Wren (v) 30. Field Sparrow 31. Chipping Sparrow (v) 32. Blue Jay 33. Tufted Titmouse (v) 34. Yellow-bellied sapsucker 35. Savannah Sparrow
Elsewhere
36. Rock Pigeon 37. Northern Cardinal (v) 38. Eastern Phoebe 39. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Rained overnight, a welcome development. At least an inch, I’d say. The trails were damp and dim to start, and the air nice and humid. Warm, too. Few birds early, but a bunch by the time we finished our hike, dog and me.
Parents and youngsters were out roaming around—among them quite a few chickadees. (The chickadees around here have noticeably different accents than those out west, by the way.) And we spooked a good-sized flock of turkeys.
An all around good July hike this morning. Felt like summer, for sure.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:51 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 3. American Goldfinch (v) 4. Gray Catbird 5. Downy Woodpecker 6. Eastern Towhee 7. Black-capped Chickadee** 8. American Crow* 9. Wood Thrush (v) 10. Ovenbird (v) 11. American Redstart 12. Chestnut-sided Warbler 13. Eastern Wood-pewee 14. Veery (v) 15. American Robin 16. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 17. Wild Turkey 18. Tufted Titmouse (v) 19. Common Yellowthroat** 20. Song Sparrow* 21. Cedar Waxwing 22. Mourning Dove 23. Purple Finch (v) 24. Savannah Sparrow 25. Common Raven (v) 26. Eastern Bluebird 27. Red-winged Blackbird 28. Field Sparrow 29. Yellow Warbler (v) 30. House Wren (v) 31. Herring Gull*
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
