After the thundershowers of yesterday, things cooled off overnight. This morning was nearly cloudless when dog and I headed up the trail, and the air was a lot cooler than the past few. Plus, at the summit, a nice southwesterly breeze ruffed our hair. (Well, Jack’s, as I don’t have a lot left these days.)
Thundershowers being forecast for mid-morning, dog and I took off a little early again this overcast morning. Breezy, too, so wearing my light rain gear (to stave off mosquitos and such) didn’t make me sweat so much (nor did Jack pant as hard as on recent mornings). And we encountered no rain.
We didn’t encounter many birds, either—at least not as many as we have lately—but those that showed up were fun. Most notably, we started a raven that appeared to be chowing down on blueberries. I managed only a photo from a distance as it flapped away.
Just eighteen species in all. But we did get back shortly after nine, beating the first thundershower by nearly an hour. A second came a couple hours later, and a third this evening.
Tomorrow’s supposed to be cooler but brighter. We shall see!
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:10 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Downy Woodpecker (v) 3. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 4. American Goldfinch** 5. American Crow* 6. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 7. Chestnut-sided Warbler 8. Gray Catbird 9. Eastern Wood-pewee 10. Hermit Thrush 11. Eastern Towhee 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Song Sparrow 14. Common Raven 15. Blue Jay (v) 16. Ovenbird (v) 17. Herring Gull 18. Tufted Titmouse
Elsewhere
19. Mourning Dove 20. Eastern Phoebe 21. Northern Cardinal (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Considering this balmy, droughty stretch of days, I figured it might be nice to take Jack up the hill earlier than usual. After all, the sun rises about 5:15 here at this time of year.
It was a very good hike—warm, but less so than on recent days. Quieter to to start, but ending with a nice batch of bird species—highlight being the very vocal loon that flew over our heads near the summit.
It was a blueberry pick day at Beech Hill. We did our hike and were headed down before the pick began. A warm one, a dry one, but a darn good one.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:27 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Blue Jay (v) 3. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 4. American Goldfinch** 5. American Crow* 6. Veery (v) 7. Black-capped Chickadee** 8. Eastern Wood-pewee 9. White-breasted Nuthatch 10. Brown Creeper (v) 11. Northern Flicker (v) 12. Tufted Titmouse (v) 13. Hermit Thrush 14. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 15. Pine Warbler (v) 16. Downy Woodpecker 17. Eastern Towhee 18. Common Yellowthroat 19. Alder Flycatcher 20. Cedar Waxwing 21. Song Sparrow 22. Yellow Warbler 23. House Wren (v) 24. Purple Finch (v) 25. Herring Gull* 26. Savannah Sparrow (v) 27. Chipping Sparrow 28. Common Loon 29. Blue-headed Vireo (v) 30. American Robin 31. Gray Catbird 32. Chestnut-sided Warbler
Elsewhere
33. Mourning Dove 34. Northern Cardinal (v)
Mammals
Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
