Sunny and cool this morning, but warming pretty fast. Birds were active, but acting a little peculiarly—a little quieter, a little nervous, flitting about—which I attribute to early migratory urges. Then, as we approached the summit, I heard human voices up there. Turned out this was “Thrill of the Hill” race day.
A bunch of folks of all ages showed up for this annual fun(d)raiser—which was a real gas to observe.
Also fun to grab a decent photo of an Alder Flycatcher—usually shy to pose.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:10 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. Ovenbird 3. Northern Cardinal** (v) 4. American Crow* (v) 5. American Goldfinch 6. Gray Catbird 7. Eastern Wood-pewee 8. American Robin 9. Black-capped Chickadee 10. Common Loon (V) 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Red-bellied Woodpecker 13. Eastern Towhee 14. Common Yellowthroat 15. Black-and-white Warbler 16. Yellow Warbler 17. Cedar Waxwing 18. Alder Flycatcher 19. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 20. Song Sparrow** 21. Yellow-rumped Warbler 22. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 23. Barn Swallow 24. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 25. Tufted Titmouse (v) 26. Hermit Thrush
Elsewhere
27. Carolina Wren (v) 28. Mourning Dove 29. Rock Pigeon 30. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Cool again this morning, but breezier and clearer and warming up in a hurry. Birds about—reawakened after yesterday’s soaking rain. A few returning species, a few familiar friends, nothing particularly outlandish.
But the blue of the sky and a few juvenile bluebirds and late summer’s yellowish sun-color… It all added up to a pretty miraculous morning.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:33 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. American Crow* 3. American Goldfinch** 4. Black-capped Chickadee 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Blue Jay 7. Veery (v) 8. Eastern Wood-pewee** (v) 9. Ovenbird 10. Gray Catbird 11. Common Yellowthroat 12. Northern Flicker 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 14. Broad-winged Hawk 15. Song Sparrow 16. Savannah Sparrow 17. Cedar Waxwing 18. American Redstart (v) 19. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 20. Eastern Bluebird 21. Tufted Titmouse 22. Chipping Sparrow 23. Turkey Vulture 24. Herring Gull* 25. Downy Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
26. Carolina Wren 27. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Sure enough rained yesterday, and overnight last night, and first thing this morning. Dog and I waited until a bit late, when rain turned to mist and fog, before heading up main trail for the second straight day.
A hike in a cloud—and the birds were lovin’ it. Nearly a dozen more species than yesterday, and a few little pods of warblers moving through the drippy trees of the wooded trail. Speaking of, as we hiked that trail, rain began to fall again. Ah, so great. We hiked for about ten minutes or so in a steady gentle rain (staying drier than we would’ve had we been hiking the open trail).
A jay and a cardinal at the end of it. And in the afternoon, more sweet rain.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:55 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch 2. Gray Catbird 3. American Crow 4. Red-eyed Vireo 5. Least Flycatcher 6. Eastern Towhee 7. Downy Woodpecker 8. Black-capped Chickadee 9. American Goldfinch 10. Cedar Waxwing 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Song Sparrow 13. Purple Finch 14. Savannah Sparrow 15. Common Yellowthroat 16. Yellow Warbler 17. Northern Flicker 18. Mourning Dove 19. Chestnut-sided Warbler 20. Yellow-rumped Warbler 21. Brown Creeper 22. Hermit Thrush 23. Eastern Wood-pewee 24. Northern Cardinal 25. Blue Jay
Elsewhere
26. Carolina Wren
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
