Black-throated Green Warbler (singing with its mouth full).
This morning dawned sunny and pleasantly cool, mid- to upper-50s (F). The forecasters suggested it’d get warmer, which gave me the idea of hiking over the hill and down the trail to the Erickson Fields Preserve. So that’s what dog and I did.
Was a long hike—both time-wise and miles-wise—but well worth it. The Erickson Fields trail traverses quite a different habitat from Beech Hill’s hardwoods and barrens (old-growth spruce/pine and grasslands), which support a notably different array of wild birds. Had multiple Black-throated Blue Warblers, saw a bunch of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, even heard the very high-pitched song of a Blackburnian Warbler. And at the far end was a grassy field with Barn Swallows zipping around.
I’m astonished that I waited so long to take that lovely hike. We’ll be doing it again real soon, dog and I.
Beech Hill/Erickson Fields List Starting at 6:09 a.m. EST (7:09 DST), I hiked all trails at both preserves.
A sunny, warm morning hike with dog, birding friends, and interesting birds. Most fun, perhaps, was the appearance of a curious, chipping fledgling cardinal. Also another random Blue-headed Vireo. Another random Barn Swallow (solo this time).
On this warm afternoon I rode 14 miles on my bicycle, where I added a few other species and enjoyed the endorphins and the feeling of the wind in my ears.
We’ll do it again tomorrow, dog and me.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:57 a.m. sun time (7:57 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Brown Creeper (v) 2. Ovenbird 3. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 4. Eastern Wood-pewee* 5. Black-and-white Warbler 6. Blue Jay (v) 7. Tufted Titmouse (v) 8. Song Sparrow** 9. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 10. Northern Cardinal** 11. Veery (v) 12. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 13. Black-capped Chickadee 14. American Goldfinch 15. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 16. Eastern Towhee 17. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 18. Hermit Thrush (v) 19. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 20. Gray Catbird** 21. Common Yellowthroat (v) 22. Field Sparrow (v) 23. Alder Flycatcher (v) 24. Yellow Warbler (v) 25. American Redstart (v) 26. Eastern Bluebird 27. Barn Swallow 28. Eastern Phoebe (v) 29. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 30. Broad-winged Hawk 31. Turkey Vulture 32. American Robin 33. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 34. Chipping Sparrow (v) 35. Blue-headed Vireo (v) 36. American Crow* 37. Cedar Waxwing
Elsewhere
38. Mallard 39. Mourning Dove 40. Herring Gull 41. House Finch 42. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Third straight amazing skies in a row this morning with Captain Jack. Less sun, more shadow—rain in the offing—which might have to do with lighter bird numbers. But two new firsts-of-years showed up on the hill: a pair of Chimney Swifts and a pair of Barn Swallows. Also heard a cuckoo, which was fun.
Plus, I had chats with several fellow hikers—including a few out-of-staters, as the season has arrived.
We got a little wet on our return hike, but it was a light rain, which just added to the fun.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:55 a.m. sun time (8:55 DST), I hiked all trails.
