A bright, chilly morning with a breeze. Upper 40s (F) to start, so I wore my birding hoodie—a smooth move. Wild birds, however, seemed relatively undaunted by the fact that the breeze was northeasterly, and dog and I had a nice hike.
That said, I had relatively few photo opportunities for much of our nature walk, which was a tad frustrating. Then, during our return, a long dark bird flitted across the hedgy trail ahead of us. It turned out to be my first Black-billed Cuckoo of the year. And the cuckoo stayed at its perch long enough for me to sneak up and get a few close photos of this handsome bird’s upper half.
Also noteworthy: a flushed woodcock, a vocal Least Flycatcher, and—at home—a fox carrying a deceased gray squirrel across the lawn.
Ah, spring!
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:11 p.m. sun time (7:11 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Ovenbird** 3. Chestnut-sided Warbler 4. American Redstart** 5. Eastern Phoebe** 6. Blue Jay (v) 7. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 8. Hermit Thrush (v) 9. American Goldfinch 10. Gray Catbird** 11. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 12. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 13. Eastern Towhee 14. Common Yellowthroat (v) 15. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 16. American Woodcock 17. Veery 18. Song Sparrow** 19. American Crow* 20. Yellow Warbler (v) 21. Field Sparrow 22. Least Flycatcher (v) 23. American Robin 24. Alder Flycatcher (v) 25. Scarlet Tanager (v) 26. Chipping Sparrow 27. Purple Finch (v) 28. Eastern Bluebird 29. Herring Gull* 30. Tufted Titmouse (v) 31. Brown-headed Cowbird 32. Northern Parula (v) 33. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 34. Black-billed Cuckoo† 35. Broad-winged Hawk (v) 36. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 37. Wood Thrush (v)
Elsewhere
38. Pine Warbler (v) 39. European Starling
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel (live one) Red Fox
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
About two inches of rain fell overnight, but sure enough—as forecast—it’d stopped by the time dog and I were ready to hike this morning. Temps in the 50s (F) to start, and foggy on the hill, but it was warmer (and clearer) by the time of our return.
In between times, I managed a list of 44 birds (including a first-of-year Warbling Vireo), but most noteworthy were a pair of trail amphibians.
On the main trail, near the summit, sat a Green Frog. Just sat there on the gravel, letting me take photos. Finally I got close enough that it decided to hop off into the wet grass. And down in the middle of the lower wooded trail, I happened to spy a tiny bright orange newt eft.
It’s been pretty dry, so I expect the fresh douse of water drew the amphibians out. Then again, what do I know.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:`16 p.m. sun time (7:16 DST), I hiked all trails.
This morning’s sky was overcast, and the air had wind and a chill. Becuase of those conditions, I didn’t expect many birds, but I was pleasantly wrong.
Most notable would be a pair of eagles flying over early on and the first chipmunk in a while and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drumming down in the woods and a flushed woodcock. And then, back home, a first-of-year phoebe perched on a twig by the house, flicking its tail.
I had the distinct feeling today that spring migration is all wound up and ready to go. Looking forward to my hike with dog in the morning (after tonight’s rain).
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:51 a.m. real time (7:51 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* 2. Song Sparrow* (v) 3. Tufted Titmouse (v) 4. Black-capped Chickadee* 5. Bald Eagle 6. American Goldfinch (v) 7. Herring Gull* 8. American Kestrel 9. Dark-eyed Junco* (v) 10. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker† (v) 11. American Woodcock 12. Pine Siskin (v) 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 14. Downy Woodpecker* (v) 15. Northern Cardinal** (v)
Elsewhere
16. Wild Turkey 17. Mourning Dove 18. Eastern Phoebe†
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
