Supposed to rain all day today, and sure enough there was a steady drizzle going on when first I looked out the window. Checked the radar, finally made a decision to move (about two hours later than usual)—and somehow the timing was great. Just very light rain (if any) during our two hours on the hill.
Twenty-two species, too, somehow. Best sighting was a pair of bluebirds apparently laying claim to one of the bird boxes. Guess we’ll see tomorrow (when it should be less rainy).
Addendum: Tonight, in bed, I heard out my window the calls of Barred Owls.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 9:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin (v) 2. Ovenbird (v) 3. Hermit Thrush 4. Black-and-white Warbler 5. Eastern Towhee 6. American Crow* 7. Herring Gull* 8. Blue Jay (v) 9. American Goldfinch 10. Field Sparrow (v) 11. Gray Catbird (v) 12. Song Sparrow 13. Blue-headed Vireo 14. Eastern Phoebe 15. American Kestrel 16. Eastern Bluebird 17. Purple Finch (v) 18. Tufted Titmouse 19. Yellow-rumped Warbler (v) 20. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 21. Northern Flicker (v) 22. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
Elsewhere
23. House Finch 24. Rock Pigeon 25. Barred Owl (v)
I’d predicted a little fallout tomorrow. Turned out it happened today. At 8.a.m., as soon as dog and I hit the wooded trailhead, the birds began to flit through: first-of-year Ovenbird, first-of-year Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-headed Vireos, Palm Warblers, yellow-rumps, and more.
White-throated Sparrow.
Ended up with 32 species, three of them first-of-year birds.
All in all a damn fun Cinco de Mayo.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked all trails.
The day started off sub-freezing but warmed about 25 degrees (F) by afternoon. This had the happy effect of melting most of the recent snowfall, clearing food for birds.
The birds themselves weren’t overly active, limited as they’ve been lately. Also, no huge migrations in a couple days (that I’ve observed anyway).
I did get good looks at waterfowl, though—among them mallards in love.
Update: Heard a Barred Owl in the back yard while in bed tonight.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Northern Cardinal** (v) 2. American Robin* (v) 3. Mourning Dove* (v) 4. Song Sparrow* 5. American Crow* 6. American Goldfinch 7. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
Elsewhere
8. Herring Gull 9. House Finch (v) 10. Ring-billed Gull 11. European Starling 12. Common Loon 13. Red-breasted Merganser 14. Mallard 15. Barred Owl (v)
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
