Last night’s soaking rain sure enough cooled things down a lot and got rid of the recent humidity. Jack had a much easier time of this morning’s hike—as, I suppose, did I.
But there were fewer flying insects. Perhaps that’s why things were so quiet, bird-wise. Fewer species on my list than in many weeks. But a couple of noteworthy ones: Wood Thrush, Herring Gull, Barn Swallow.
Also, in a chance meeting, I had a nice long chat with three long-time friends I hadn’t seen (or talked to) in a while. Kind of the day’s highlight.
Unless, of course, you count the handsome Eastern Coyote that showed up in the yard this early morning.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:56 a.m. EST (7:56 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 2. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 3. American Goldfinch** 4. Wood Thrush (v) 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Tufted Titmouse (v) 7. Cedar Waxwing 8. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 9. Black-capped Chickadee** 10. American Crow* 11. Gray Catbird 12. Yellow Warbler (v) 13. Herring Gull* 14. Song Sparrow* 15. Barn Swallow 16. American Robin* 17. Blue Jay (v) 18. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 19. Common Yellowthroat (v)
Elsewhere
20. Mourning Dove 21. Osprey 22. House Sparrow 23. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 24. Laughing Gull 25. Rock Dove
Mammals
Eastern Coyote
Reptiles
Garter Snake
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
This morning’s hike with dog was short and quick, as I had an appointment that would cut things shorter than usual. But this morning’s hike happened also under sunny skies, which I first thought might mean fewer bird species than during yesterday’s foggy overcast—but no. I had more.
Notable was the fact that a couple of very young birds posed for photos—including a relatively fearless Common Yellowthroat.
After our hike, I met a friend and we walked to a saltwater cove and had a swim—first swim in a good while for me. It was a very good day.
(More sun coming for the rest of the week, or so they say.)
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:51 a.m. EST (7:51 DST), I hiked the wooded trail.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Eastern Phoebe* 3. Tufted Titmouse** (v) 4. Scarlet Tanager (v) 5. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 6. Song Sparrow** 7. American Goldfinch (v) 8. Ovenbird** (v) 9. Veery (v) 10. Eastern Towhee 11. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 12. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 13. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 14. American Crow* 15. Northern Flicker 16. American Robin* 17. Hairy Woodpecker 18. Blue Jay 19. Gray Catbird** 20. Common Yellowthroat 21. Field Sparrow (v) 22. Cedar Waxwing 23. Eastern Bluebird 24. Yellow Warbler (v) 25. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 26. Barn Swallow 27. Purple Finch (v) 28. Downy Woodpecker (v) 29. Brown Creeper (v) 30. Alder Flycatcher (v)
Elsewhere
31. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 32. Mourning Dove 33. Herring Gull 34. Common Tern 35. American Black Duck 36. Osprey
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
No rain in this morning’s forecast, but foggy again to start. (A lot of moisture in the air lately.) Still, soon enough, the sun began to break through occasionally, and the temperature rose a bit. Another very calm day.
Fewer birds than yesterday, but a few interesting ones—most notable being a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers excavating for food along the upper woodland trail. (And I heard the call of a Great Crested Flycatcher as we began our return trip.)
Finally, I’ve marveled at how many dead or dying Brown-tail Moths litter the trails just now. Many hundreds in the past few days—seemingly more each day. (They must live only long enough to lay a fresh batch of eggs.)
Tomorrow’s supposed to be bright and warm.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:30 a.m. EST (7:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Eastern Phoebe** 3. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 4. Ovenbird** (v) 5. Tufted Titmouse (v) 6. Veery 7. American Goldfinch** 8. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 9. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 10. Blue Jay (v) 11. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 12. Northern Flicker (v) 13. Hermit Thrush 14. American Crow* 15. Gray Catbird** 16. Eastern Towhee 17. Common Yellowthroat** 18. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 19. Alder Flycatcher (v) 20. Song Sparrow* 21. Pileated Woodpecker 22. Yellow Warbler** 23. Field Sparrow (v) 24. Barn Swallow 25. Cedar Waxwing* 26. Eastern Bluebird 27. American Robin* 28. Downy Woodpecker (v) 29. Purple Finch 30. Great Crested Flycatcher (v)
