Another sunny day, and a mild one. My hike with dog was a tiny bit chilly to start—but it was downright hot when we got done. High temps in the 80s (F) today.
The birds were perhaps a bit quieter than on recent days, but my list still added up to thirty-four species. Notable was a persisting Prairie Warbler and a pair of hawks on the wing.
Tomorrow’s high is supposed to be twenty degrees cooler. Will be interesting to see how different my list will be.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:30 a.m. sun time (7:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
A morning much like yesterday’s, only a mite cooler and not quite as much wind. Nor quite as many bird species—but close!
First-of-year bird: Carolina Wren singing down by the wooded trailhead. Other encounters of note: five woodpecker species, mating bluebirds, an active Tree Swallow, a grouse that might’ve had chicks, an Osprey with a fish, a white-tail bounding through the woods.
The landscape has dried up a lot lately—alarmingly so. No deer ticks, true, but not as much water as there should be. However, rain is in the forecast for the days ahead.
As are many more first-of-year species.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:27 a.m. real time (7:27 DST), I hiked all trails.
Welp, we’re supposed to get quite the winter snowstorm tonight and tomorrow, part of a continent-wide weather system crossing the country east to west. So today stood as a sort of blue-sky respite: chilly, a bit breezy, but lovely—and with quite a few nice birds.
Bluebirds still, along with the usual other suspects and a too-shy Brown Creeper. But most exciting was the last bird on my morning list—a lone Bald Eagle flying by in the mostly blue sky above the Beech Hill summit.
Tomorrow, from what I gather, dog and I will be hiking in snow up an already snowy hill. (Will report back.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:53 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Tufted Titmouse (v) 2. American Crow* 3. Black-capped Chickadee** 4. Downy Woodpecker (v) 5. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 6. American Goldfinch 7. White-breasted Nuthatch** 8. Brown Creeper 9. Eastern Bluebird 10. American Robin 11. Bald Eagle
Elsewhere
12. Carolina Wren 13. Herring Gull 14. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
