Blue sky, cool temps, and a nice breeze greeted dog and me as we started up the wooded trail. Plenty of birds were there to greet us, too.
It didn’t seem at first that I’d have much of a list, but the higher we got, the more birds I saw or heard. And then—as has happened in recent days—we hiked a ways down the Erickson Fields trail down toward Beech Hill Road and added a bunch more species.
Notable today was a first-of-year Canada Warbler. I didn’t get a look at it, but the Merlin app insisted that’s what made the quick little jumble of a warble I was hearing across the road—and after we got home I matched my GoPro recording with the Cornell Labs’. (Wish I’d got a peek.)
Similar weather expected tomorrow. Will I encounter another first of year?
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:31 a.m. sun time (7:31 DST), I hiked all trails.
I had an early appointment this morning, so for the first time in—I think—years, dog and I took our hike in afternoon. The light was bright, the air was cool, the winds were high, the birds were sparser than at earlier hours. However, it was as fun as ever.
A couple dozen species total, with the most notable bird being a Hermit Thrush that popped up on a little snag just in front of us and posed for photos. Also two hawks and a vulture. Several warblers.
The early excursion involved a drive to Portland, so on the way I got some unusual (for me) birds while zipping past.
Tomorrow will be early, as usual. Maybe a first-of-year species or two?
Beech Hill List Beginning at 12:10 p.m. sun time (1:10 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Ovenbird (v) 2. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v) 3. Song Sparrow (v) 4. American Goldfinch (v) 5. Black-and-white Warbler** (v) 6. Brown Creeper (v) 7. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 8. Eastern Towhee 9. Northern Cardinal (v) 10. Chestnut-sided Warbler 11. Hermit Thrush 12. American Crow* 13. Blue Jay (v) 14. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 15. Field Sparrow (v) 16. Yellow Warbler (v) 17. Turkey Vulture 18. Red-tailed Hawk 19. Broad-winged Hawk 20. Chipping Sparrow 21. Herring Gull* 22. Eastern Phoebe** 23. Tufted Titmouse (v) 24. Purple Finch (v)
Elsewhere
25. Mallard 26. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 27. European Starling 28. Double-crested Cormorant 29. Osprey 30. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Another lovely spring day, but cooler, and with a lot of sunshine. Thought I’d have lot fewer species on my list this morning than I ended up with—a nice mix. First-of-year bird (which I didn’t confirm until I downloaded a blurry photo of it): Magnolia Warbler.
The few showers forecast for last night left no trace (if in fact they fell). The trails were drier than they’ve been for many weeks, seemed like. Territorial Ovenbirds were chasing each other though the woods. And had another random junco.
Now we wait for flycatchers, wood-pewee, and several other late nesters. Fun time of year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:20 a.m. sun time (7:20 DST), I hiked all trails.
