A mostly overcast, breezy morning with temps in the 50s (F). We got an earlier start than yesterday, dog and I, and the birds seemed especially active—perhaps because they’ve got babies to feed. When the summer solstice approaches, it’s the time nestlings and fledglings.
In the woods, for instance, Ovenbirds were vocally warning us against getting near their nests on the forest floor. And I spied a pair of fledgling chickadees being fed by a parent near the summit. And at the summit proper, in the eaves of Beech Nut, I caught sight of a phoebe with a beak crammed with insect food.
A busy time of year it is, for the bird life. (Likewise, the life of a birder.)
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:18 a.m. EST (8:18 DST), I hiked all trails.
The overnight rain came heavily and steadily, but it’d most moved away by this morning. Dog and I waited to start up the trail until the rain had passed. Although the trees were drippy, we didn’t get very wet—and despite the overcast I managed a few decent photos.
Most notable this morning was a miss: a bright yellow-orange songbird flitting in some shady undergrowth around a stone wall along Beech Hill Road. I feel sure it was an oriole, but I couldn’t manage a pic or good look.
Supposed to clear up some tomorrow. And a couple days after that, summer will arrive.
Beech Hill List Starting at 9:00 a.m. EST (10:00 DST), I hiked all trails.
Welp, we mixed it up this early morning, dog and me—accompanied our human and dog friends up the many trails winding around the Camden Snow Bowl. The day was bright and the winds were light and the grade was steep. Got a few different-than-usual species (and missed a few common at Beech Hill) and couldn’t well keep track of the chronology of sightings—thus, today’s species are listed I alphabetical order.
Ol’ Jack did well for such a warm, steep hike. (I could say the same for myself.) A change of scenery ain’t ever a bad thing.
We’ll be back at Beech Hill tomorrow, though (during what’s supposed to be some light rain).
Camden Snow Bowl Trails List Starting at 6:13 a.m. EST (7:13 DST), I hiked some Camden Snow Bowl trails.
1. Alder Flycatcher (v) 2. American Goldfinch** 3. American Redstart (v) 4. American Robin* 5. Baltimore Oriole 6. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 7. Black-capped Chickadee 8. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 9. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 10. Blue-headed Vireo (v) 11. Blue Jay (v) 12. Broad-winged Hawk (v) 13. Brown Creeper (v) 14. Cedar Waxwing (v) 15. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 16. Chipping Sparrow* 17. Common Loon 18. Common Yellowthroat (v) 19. Dark-eyed Junco 20. Eastern Phoebe* (v) 21. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 22. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 23. Hermit Thrush (v) 24. Least Flycatcher (v) 25. Mallard 26. Mourning Dove (v) 27. Ovenbird (v) 28. Purple Finch (v) 29. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 30. Red-winged Blackbird 31. Scarlet Tanager 32. Song Sparrow* 33. Tree Swallow 34. Tufted Titmouse (v) 35. Turkey Vulture 36. Warbling Vireo (v) 37. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 38. Yellow Warbler (v)
Elsewhere
39. American Crow
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
