A tad bit cooler than yesterday to start, overcast, and with calmer air. Dog and I headed up the main trail, and I had only one interesting bird—a raven flying by in the distance, with the bay behind it—until we reached the summit and began descending into the woods.

Down in the trees, I heard little woodland birds—nuthatches, titmice—and spotted them along with a Downy Woodpecker and a Brown Creeper.

Returning the the summit, I heard a bluebird, then saw several, accompanied by several yellow-rumps. It’s January, and here’s a flock of wood-warblers. Gotta confess I wasn’t surprised—these hardly little birds nest far north of us, and a few often winter over—but still I had to admire their audacity.

You just gotta give it to Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:19 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. American Crow
2. White-breasted Nuthatch**
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. American Goldfinch (v)
5. Northern Flicker (v)
6. Tufted Titmouse
7. Downy Woodpecker
8. Common Raven
9. Brown Creeper
10. Eastern Bluebird
11. Yellow-rumped Warbler
12. American Robin (v)

Elsewhere

13. Mallard

Mammals

Eastern Gray Squirrel

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year