Cool and overcast to start soon became bright and breezy. An interesting array of bird species—three ravens, a flushed woodcock, bluebirds in the woodlands—and plenty of humans (and a couple of dogs) out enjoying the change in the weather.
Common Raven.
Got no complaints about Nature’s offerings this fine day. And tomorrow I help with a middle school hike. Fun!
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:30 a.m. EST (8:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee** 2. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 3. Common Raven 4. Song Sparrow 5. Turkey Vulture* 6. Blue Jay** 7. American Crow* (v) 8. Northern Flicker (v) 9. Gray Catbird (v) 10. Hermit Thrush 11. Eastern Towhee (v) 12. Eastern Bluebird 13. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 14. American Woodcock 15. American Robin 16. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 17. Herring Gull*
A balmy morning on a day of warm sunshine, high humidity, and a top temperature in the low 80s (F). Brought extra water for Captain Jack, who panted a lot nevertheless.
Quite a few birds—but certainly fewer than had it not been so summery. Fewer individuals of fewer species. But along came one nice surprise: An American Woodcock that appeared on the trail in front of us actually stopped to pose for a photo.
I think that’s one of at most four or five woodcock pics I’ve ever taken—possibly even the best. Thanks, Mr. Timberdoodle!
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:17 a.m. EST (8:17 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Eastern Phoebe** 2. Northern Cardinal** (v) 3. American Goldfinch 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 5. Veery (v) 6. Red-eyed Vireo 7. Ovenbird 8. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 9. American Crow* (v) 10. Black-capped Chickadee 11. Song Sparrow 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Field Sparrow (v) 14. Yellow Warbler 15. American Robin* 16. Gray Catbird 17. Eastern Towhee 18. Cedar Waxwing 19. Northern Flicker (v) 20. Blue Jay** (v) 21. Hermit Thrush (v) 22. Eastern Wood-pewee 23. Brown Creeper (v) 24. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 25. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 26. Hairy Woodpecker 27. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 28. Chipping Sparrow (v) 29. American Woodcock
Elsewhere
30. Mallard 31. Herring Gull 32. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
No fog this morning for a change! Gray skies, mist in the hills, a humid, drippy atmosphere—but the fog waited until we’d hiked about an hour, dog and I. And, bird-wise, all about us were the sounds of begging from fledglings and notes of alarm from adults with their mouths full.
It’s that season.
Most notable today was a woodcock we flushed down in the lower woods—flushed it twice, actually. It’s a rich, wet, warm time of year.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:37 a.m. EST (7:37 DST), I hiked all trails.
