A bit cooler this morning when dog and I began our hike about a half hour earlier than yesterday. Just as bright, though—and even birdier. Considering a pretty stout wind, I was surprised to end up with a total of forty species.
The white-throats, as is their habit, were scratching about last year’s leaf litter, occasionally delivering one of their signature tseet! notes, and occasionally singing. I decided on a tally of twenty-four birds—but it easily could’ve been more. Those little sneaks were everywhere.
Tomorrow’s supposed to be warmer, with lighter winds. Already looking forward.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:30 a.m. sun time (7:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
This morning Captain Jack and I led a bird walk along the sunny, warming trails of Beech Hill Preserve. A real good number of folks (twenty-ish?) showed up, and the universe smiled on us.
Right away, birds—and among them, again, plenty of them warblers.
Other noteworthy birds were a pair of calling Broad-winged Hawks, a drumming Pileated Woodpecker, a photogenic kestrel, a plethora of towhees. But for the second straight day, I tallied two first-of-year warblers—a Yellow Warbler, and (my favorite) a Black-throated Blue Warbler. (The latter even posed for a nice photo.)
It was fun to tell a few stories of the hill, to offer a few tips, to recall some humorous bird-related memories. An auspicious day, this 9th of May.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:30 a.m. sun time (7:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
Cooler than yesterday, with a bit of a disadvantageous (northerly, westerly) breeze, but still the birds arrived. More species on my list today than on any other day this year.
Notable were first-of-year Blackburnian Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. Also had a random kinglet, a kestrel dining on a snake, and only a single crow. But the warblers were stars on this sunny spring day.
Eight warbler species showed up this morning (including the firsts-of-year above), each singing its distinctive spring song. Just lovely.
I do hope they turn up again tomorrow, when I lead my first Beech Hill bird walk in a while.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:13 a.m. real time (7:13 DST), I hiked all trails.
