This morning was much like yesterday morning—wet, muddy, starting to go green—but the day itself, unlike yesterday, was overcast throughout. On my hike with dog, we enjoyed a bit more wind, temps in the 40s (F), and, frankly, more bird species than I expected (albeit far fewer than yesterday).
No firsts-of-year, but the Brown Thrasher of the other day showed up again. Otherwise, mostly the usual suspects. A happy hike, though—even the slog down the lower wooded trail (which was essentially a stream).
Another morning like this is forecast for tomorrow, but thereafter it looks like we might get a streak of warmer, brighter days.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:09 a.m. real time (8:09 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Savannah Sparrow (v) 2. Purple Finch (v) 3. American Robin** 4. Chipping Sparrow 5. Blue Jay 6. American Crow* 7. Black-capped Chickadee 8. Eastern Towhee 9. Tufted Titmouse (v) 10. Downy Woodpecker (v) 11. Brown Thrasher 12. Brown-headed Cowbird (v) 13. American Goldfinch 14. Field Sparrow (v) 15. Song Sparrow** 16. Northern Cardinal 17. Herring Gull* 18. Eastern Bluebird 19. Eastern Phoebe (v) 20. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
Elsewhere
21. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Another in a series of gray, wet, foggy mornings for dog and me. But what might’ve seemed an uneventful hike soon began to bear fruit.
And by the end of it, I had twenty-seven species on my list (took another hike with another guest dog in afternoon and added a twenty-eighth species), although no first-of years.
Still it was a cool and memorable day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:01 a.m. real time (8:01 DST), I hiked all trails.
A day very much like yesterday—but without yesterday’s rain. This morning, dog and I encountered water in the form of a thick fog (and streams running down the trails). But unlike yesterday, birds were vocal and active.
Never would I have imagined I’d end with more than two dozen species on my list. No first-of-year species, but everything from a Mallard (voice only, flying over) to a first-of-year-singing Savannah Sparrow (my favorite sparrow).
The sparrow was especially fun. I simply love its sibilant, insect-like song—which carries so far. Even in a thick fog.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:02 a.m. real time (8:02 DST), I hiked all trails.
