Two hikes again today—early one with Jack at the Wellness Trail, later one alone at Beech Hill Preserve. Both good, interesting, satisfying.
Things were pretty dry this morning, which makes this evening’s rain (including mini-thundershower) especially welcome. A good number of birds both places, along with assorted mammals (chipmunk, squirrel, deer). Noteworthy were two singing Scarlet Tanagers, but I got no glimpse of either.
This coming week is supposed to be a wet one. Will be an interesting—and no doubt fascinating—change of pace.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 9:44 a.m. sun time (10:45 DST), I hiked all trails—and then some.
Circumstances had me hiking Beech Hill twice this morning: once, briefly, early, and another hike of all trails in late morning. (Between I had a hike with Jack-my-dog and our human and doggie friends on the Community Wellness Trail.) Birds were out during both hikes—fewer in the late-morning heat (it got to 80° (F) today), but that’s also when the most interesting sighting occurred.
I’d heard the wild cheeping in the same location on a couple of earlier hikes but could never track down the source. Today I did: a juvenile Hairy Woodpecker. That little bird (or, possibly, multiple youngsters taking turns sticking their heads out of the nest cavity) made a lot of noise. Saw an adult (male) offer a quick bite only once, no doubt because of my presence.
Otherwise just a lovely (warm) day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:45 a.m. sun time (7:45 DST), and resuming at 9:14 (10:14), I hiked all trails—and then some.
Another Beech Hill hike without Jack-my-dog (again we walked from the house to the Wellness Trail later), which still seems extremely weird. However, a little excitement on the hill. For one thing, I counted thirty-six species today.
In reviewing this total later, I realized I’d skipped a number. However, I happened upon a blurry photo, quickly snapped, that showed a bird I could not identify. Checked with an expert ID friend, who pronounced it a female Indigo Bunting. Also got nice pics of a yellowthroat for a change and encountered a Snowshoe Hare.
Another sunny one forecast for tomorrow, but rain’s gonna come this weekend—and continue all the following week. (Frankly, we can use it.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:00 a.m. sun time (7:00 DST), I hiked all trails, and then some.
