Another warm and humid one, but with a bit more breeze. A mostly clear sky early, with fine light for photos. The birds were cooperative enough that I managed a few decent shots—including a fair pic of a juvenile Veery.
Notable was a one hummingbird near the summit—and a quick tramp down the Erickson Fields trail, which had cooler temps and more shade.
It’s raining as I write this, which should lessen the humidity tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:56 a.m. EST (7:56 DST), I hiked all trails, and then some.
A gray overcast greeted dog and me as we headed over to the wooded trailhead. Warm but not too warm, humid but just the right amount of humidity. However, the woods were very quiet. Was this because of the barometric pressure? The overcast? The humidity? The time of year? Or did the quiet have something to do with all the new young birds flitting around in the thick foliage?
I’m thinking a combination of factors. but certainly the need to feed had something to do with it. All told, fewer birds than in many recent weeks, but a few bother to pose for photos—among them a juvie robin.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:56 a.m. EST (7:56 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Goldfinch** 2. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 3. American Crow* 4. Eastern Towhee 5. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 6. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 7. Tufted Titmouse (v) 8. Black-capped Chickadee 9. Gray Catbird 10. American Robin* 11. Common Yellowthroat 12. Alder Flycatcher (v) 13. Song Sparrow* 14. Field Sparrow (v) 15. Mourning Dove* 16. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 17. Yellow Warbler (v) 18. Hermit Thrush (v) 19. Cedar Waxwing (v) 20. Chestnut-sided Warbler 21. Downy Woodpecker 22. Eastern Phoebe
Elsewhere
23. Herring Gull 24. Wild Turkey
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Another sunny, warm morning. Humid, but not as humid. Not a lot of bird vocalization—although little ones were announcing their presence with tiny, begging chips and whines.
Among species that’ve gone quiet: Veery, American Redstart, a couple of woodpecker species. Titmice were perhaps the most active species today, along with others with youngsters, like towhees and catbirds. And toward the end of my hike with dog, we came upon a group of three or four little Chestnut-sided Warbler fledglings.
The sunny, warm weather’s supposed to continue. Tomorrow will be different somehow, just wait…
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:59 a.m. EST (7:59 DST), I hiked all trails.
