A wonderfully overcast day. I love sunny days, of course, and snowy winter days, and days of every other kind of skies—but every so often comes a special overcast that seems to me protective, like a blanket. This was one of those.
What’s more, lots of birds—including a couple of firsts-of-year: Red-eyed Vireo and Great Crested Flycatcher. (Also a two firsts elsewhere.) And plenty of other resident species have yet to arrive, which makes for the certainty of near-future excitement.
Also had the honor of holding a Red-bellied Snake, for a moment, gently. The snake was another first of year.
The trails were dry this morning for the first time in a while, but a few overnight rain showers are forecast, then sun tomorrow. Already imagining what sort of day it’ll be.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:18 a.m. sun time (7:18 DST), I hiked all trails.
This morning early as we hiked up the wooded trail, dog and I, the sun was out and the air was warm. Warm for the time of day, that is—and not long after, just plain warm. And that warmth drew the insects out. And the insects drew the warblers (and other birds).
My count today—much to my surprise—topped my previous count for the year (by one). Plus, I had two first-of-year birds: Chestnut-sided Warbler and Northern Parula.
Returning down the trail, in fact, we encountered a little warbler fallout—yellow-rump, black-throated green, parula. How fun the next few days will be.
(Also got a pretty nice photo of my favorite sparrow.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:04 a.m. real time (7:04 DST), I hiked all trails.
The weather hasn’t been friendly for spring migration—winds from the north and northwest, rain and chill unconducive to flies and insects, etc. But today the sun emerged for the first time in a good while, and a few birds managed to begin moving through our hiking patch, dog and me.
Notable on this sunny morn was a first-of-year Ovenbird (ID’d only after I’d listened to my GoPro footage) and first-blooming Trout Lilies.
The winds won’t be overly friendly for the next few (several?) days, but it won’t be long before a rush of new migrants arrive. I’ll be leading a bird walk at Beech Hill in a few days, and my hope is things will be hoppin’ by then. We shall see.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:28 a.m. real time (7:28 DST), I hiked all trails.
