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
This morning’s cool, sunny hike—the yellowish sun of late summer—came with a nice collection of bird species, but a more distracted lister. That’s because of the several conversations I had with fellow Beech Hill hikers.
Bobolink (female/juvie male).
It’s often that way. Jack and I are a friendly pair, and, well, these days trail chats are pretty much our only social life. These chats were good ones— inspiring, involving strangers and old pals, full of interesting coincidences. But I really lose count on such mornings.
I’m pretty sure I nailed things down, though. Most memorable, to me, will be the fact that I got my first halfway decent photo of a Maine hummingbird in a long while. (Haven’t seen many since our return.) Plus, a first-in-years Bobolink.
Rain expected on Wednesday. Tomorrow will be another dry one.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:25 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay (v) 2. American Crow* (v) 3. American Goldfinch** 4. Red-eyed Vireo 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. Red-breasted Nuthatch 7. Alder Flycatcher 8. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 9. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 10. Ovenbird (v) 11. Tufted Titmouse (v) 12. Brown Creeper (v) 13. Gray Catbird** 14. Eastern Towhee 15. Eastern Phoebe 16. Cedar Waxwing 17. Purple Finch 18. Yellow-rumped Warbler 19. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 20. Field Sparrow (v) 21. Song Sparrow** 22. Yellow Warbler (v) 23. Bobolink 24. Chestnut-sided Warbler 25. Northern Cardinal (v) 26. Least Flycatcher (v) 27. Common Yellowthroat 28. Wilson’s Warbler
Elsewhere
29. Carolina Wren (v) 30. American Robin (v) 31. Herring Gull
Mammals
American Red Squirrel
Reptiles
Eastern Garter Snake
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Cool temperatures for the second straight morning. Dry, nearly cloudless sky. Few mosquitos (although one got me good), and lovely later-summer’s yellowish early light. Green and yellow and blue.
Good birds. Three nice chats with fellow humans. A couple nice photos.
Truly, I loved this day (as I will love tomorrow).
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:25 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. Red-breasted Nuthatch 4. American Goldfinch** 5. Cedar Waxwing 6. American Crow* 7. Eastern Towhee** 8. American Redstart (v) 9. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 10. Blue Jay (v) 11. Veery (v) 12. American Robin* 13. Hermit Thrush (v) 14. Chestnut-sided Warbler 15. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 16. Hairy Woodpecker 17. Downy Woodpecker 18. Eastern Phoebe 19. Brown Creeper 20. Tufted Titmouse (v) 21. Gray Catbird** 22. Common Yellowthroat (v) 23. Yellow-rumped Warbler 24. Yellow Warbler (v) 25. Song Sparrow 26. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 27. Alder Flycatcher 28. Least Flycatcher (v) 29. Black-and-white Warbler 30. Northern Cardinal (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
