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.
A morning much like yesterday’s after some overnight rain. A wetter landscape, with thicker fog and fewer bird species—but not that much thicker, and not all that fewer. In fact, we enjoyed it a lot, dog and me.
Had casual chats with several humans (and shared sniffs with a few dogs). Spied a quiet mama turkey (with likely tiny chicks around). Saw the thrasher again, and heard blackbirds. But the only decent photo I got was a portrait of a Cedar Waxwing (showing the reason it got its name). I rather liked the photo.
Supposed to be partly cloudy tomorrow morning, with possible thunderstorms about midday. Expect dramatic clouds.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:10 a.m. sun time (8:10 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Common Yellowthroat (v) 2. Red-eyed Vireo** 3. Ovenbird (v) 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler 5. Black-and-white Warbler** 6. Northern Cardinal** (v) 7. Song Sparrow* 8. Alder Flycatcher (v) 9. American Goldfinch 10. Eastern Towhee 11. Mourning Dove* 12. Field Sparrow (v) 13. Eastern Phoebe* 14. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 15. American Crow* 16. Yellow Warbler (v) 17. Cedar Waxwing 18. Eastern Bluebird 19. Gray Catbird** 20. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 21. Blue Jay (v) 22. Prairie Warbler (v) 23. American Robin* 24. American Redstart** 25. Hermit Thrush (v) 26. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 27. Tufted Titmouse (v) 28. Veery (v) 29. Scarlet Tanager (v) 30. Black-capped Chickadee** 31. Wild Turkey 32. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 33. Brown Thrasher
Elsewhere
34. Mallard 35. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
The morning rain wasn’t supposed to arrive for a couple hours after dog and I would reach main Beech Hill trailhead, so I was happy to be hiking in a mostly overcast day—a day with quite a few birds despite the semi-gloom. Temps were nice (60° F or so), wind was light, the air was fragrant, a little blue in the eastern sky.
Ended up with thirty-one species—including, at the very end, the voice of a loon sailing off toward Chickawaukie Lake.
Afterward, we ate some lunch, then I rode my bicycle up to the Town Office to vote (a long-time tradition). And after that, I made a dump run.
All in all, a mighty fruitful day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:38 a.m. sun time (7:38 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Veery 3. Northern Cardinal (v) 4. Song Sparrow* 5. American Crow* 6. Chestnut-sided Warbler 7. Ovenbird 8. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 9. Mourning Dove** (v) 10. American Redstart (v) 11. Eastern Towhee 12. American Goldfinch 13. Cedar Waxwing 14. Gray Catbird** 15. Common Yellowthroat 16. Field Sparrow (v) 17. Alder Flycatcher (v) 18. Yellow Warbler 19. Eastern Bluebird 20. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 21. Eastern Phoebe 22. Savannah Sparrow (v) 23. Prairie Warbler (v) 24. Hermit Thrush (v) 25. Eastern Wood-pewee 26. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 27. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 28. Blue Jay (v) 29. Tufted Titmouse (v) 30. Common Loon (v)
Elsewhere
31. Wild Turkey 32. Chipping Sparrow 33. Pine Warbler (v) 34. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk American Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
