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.
A morning much like yesterday’s, only a mite cooler and not quite as much wind. Nor quite as many bird species—but close!
First-of-year bird: Carolina Wren singing down by the wooded trailhead. Other encounters of note: five woodpecker species, mating bluebirds, an active Tree Swallow, a grouse that might’ve had chicks, an Osprey with a fish, a white-tail bounding through the woods.
The landscape has dried up a lot lately—alarmingly so. No deer ticks, true, but not as much water as there should be. However, rain is in the forecast for the days ahead.
As are many more first-of-year species.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:27 a.m. real time (7:27 DST), I hiked all trails.
A morning much like yesterday’s—a bit colder (20s (F)), not quite as breezy, perhaps a bit more overcast. Not as many bird species, but quite a few more individual birds.
The species with the most numbers: yellow-rumps. Goldfinches came in a close second. Also a bunch of chickadees. Three woodpecker species, several crows—and even a departing raven. But most noteworthy would be the bluebirds.
A little gang at the summit, perching, posing. Even a single individual way down by the wooded trailhead. Any day with bluebirds—even a nippy day in November—is a good ’un.
(Also notable: en route early, saw a handsome buck loping across a field.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:19 a.m., I hiked most trails.
