Circumstances had me hiking Beech Hill twice this morning: once, briefly, early, and another hike of all trails in late morning. (Between I had a hike with Jack-my-dog and our human and doggie friends on the Community Wellness Trail.) Birds were out during both hikes—fewer in the late-morning heat (it got to 80° (F) today), but that’s also when the most interesting sighting occurred.
I’d heard the wild cheeping in the same location on a couple of earlier hikes but could never track down the source. Today I did: a juvenile Hairy Woodpecker. That little bird (or, possibly, multiple youngsters taking turns sticking their heads out of the nest cavity) made a lot of noise. Saw an adult (male) offer a quick bite only once, no doubt because of my presence.
Otherwise just a lovely (warm) day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:45 a.m. sun time (7:45 DST), and resuming at 9:14 (10:14), I hiked all trails—and then some.
Captain Jack, age 15, has been limping a little (front foot), so I made the hard decision to let him sit out this morning’s hike for the first time in years. A very hard decision.
Memorial Day was sunny and cool and breezy, and people were out and about, and so were birds. Most notable was probably the individual Cedar Waxwing I spied at the summit. Only the second waxwing sighting of the year—although more will show up in summer for the annual fly hatch up there.
Felt bad that dog didn’t get a hike, and a friend suggested a short trail near the house, which we three hiked in afternoon. Jack liked the new smells. We’ll do more of that going forward, for sure.
Supposed to start warming up again. We shall see.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:08 a.m. sun time (7:08 DST), I hiked all trails, and then some.
Another sunny morn, a bit chillier than yesterday but with less wind. And another slow start up the wooded trail—and, yes, another surpringly nice batch of spring birds.
Most noteworthy were two first-of-year Eastern Kingbirds hanging about in the blueberry barrens, catching flies. A total of forty-three species was also nice. And the very last bird of the day: a Broad-winged Hawk in the woods, staring down the photographer.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:31 a.m. sun time (7:31 DST), I hiked all trails.
