A warm morning, leading up to a warm day—mid-60s in afternoon. There was wind, but also sun, and I needed only a light jacket and wore my regular (not insulated) jeans. Good decisions all.
Did not know what to expect today, and ended up highly entertained by what we encountered. Most notable: a first-of-year Osprey, and a first-of-year Mourning Cloak butterfly. Also more Palm Warblers, and a little flock of waxwings that zipped by as we were hiking the open trail.
It’s suddenly dry on the trails—and no real relief in sight. But tomorrow will be a warm one, with Friday maybe even warmer.
P.S. Heard my first spring peepers last night.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:24 a.m. real time (7:24 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin** 2. Eastern Phoebe** 3. Song Sparrow* 4. Turkey Vulture 5. Tufted Titmouse** 6. American Goldfinch 7. American Crow* 8. Blue Jay 9. Black-capped Chickadee* 10. Northern Cardinal** (v) 11. Palm Warbler 12. Ruffed Grouse 13. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 14. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 15. Yellow-rumped Warbler 16. Osprey† 17. Herring Gull* 18. Eastern Bluebird 19. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 20. American Kestrel 21. Cedar Waxwing 22. Golden-crowned Kinglet (v)
The early morning air was warm, the sky was mostly overcast, there was a bit of breeze. There would be birds—but rather subdued birds, secretive birds, returning or nesting or foraging. And there were a bunch.
Most notable were three Palm Warblers—first-of-year birds—that I happened to hear, then see. Only one posed for a half-way decent photo.
Toward the end of my hike with dog, a raven flew over, moving fast avoiding a dive-bombing crow.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:26 a.m. real time (7:26 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Song Sparrow* 2. American Robin* 3. Eastern Phoebe** 4. Northern Cardinal** (v) 5. American Goldfinch (v) 6. Tufted Titmouse (v) 7. Blue Jay** 8. Black-capped Chickadee** 9. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 10. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 11. Brown Creeper 12. Eastern Bluebird 13. American Crow* 14. Palm Warbler† 15. Downy Woodpecker** (v) 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 17. Herring Gull* (v) 18. Yellow-rumped Warbler 19. Northern Flicker** 20. Brown-headed Cowbird 21. Hairy Woodpecker 22. American Kestrel 23. Common Raven
Elsewhere
24. House Sparrow
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
What a morning. Chilly to start, with a little breeze, but absolutely cloudless (rare her on the coast of Maine), and really interesting birdwise.
First-of-year note: A flock of about thirty Cedar Waxwings flew right by us, but I accidentally turned off my camera and so missed ’em. However, I did get a photo of one of many Yellow-rumped Warblers that were moving through—several of them singing.
Within a few days, I expect to see a Palm Warbler—and other incoming species.
Fun time of year!
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:26 a.m. real time (7:26 DST), I hiked all trails.
