At dawn, my indoor-outdoor thermometer showed thirties (F) first thing. By the time dog and I headed up the hill, it had risen to about 40°—and mostly sunny. An absolutely lovely, colorful woodland, with little birds flitting around in the periphery.
Granted, most of these birds were yellow-rumps, but I also heard the (off-season) booming of a Ruffed Grouse and the teeny of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Another Swamp Sparrow—bunch of sparrows moving through—and plenty of woodpeckers. A fun hike.
Looking forward to tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:05 a.m., I hiked all trails.
Chilly again—upper 40s (F)—when we hit the trail, dog and I. Sunny at first, but an a thin layer of clouds overtook the sky before we’d hit the summit. Another birdy day.
Most notable were a Northern Harrier scanning the barrens for a good while, an American Kestrel perched on the highest spruce on the summit, and a Ruffed Grouse we flushed on our ascent. Also heard a raven, spied an osprey, encountered many, many Yellow-rumped Warblers.
I dearly love this time of year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:43 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 2. American Crow** (v) 3. Blue Jay (v) 4. Common Raven (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee 6. Purple Finch (v) 7. Tufted Titmouse 8. Yellow-rumped Warbler 9. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 10. Brown Creeper 11. Black-and-white Warbler 12. Red-eyed Vireo 13. Red-breasted Nuthatch 14. American Robin* 15. Hermit Thrush 16. Gray Catbird (v) 17. Eastern Towhee (v) 18. Hairy Woodpecker 19. Ruffed Grouse 20. White-throated Sparrow (v) 21. Northern Harrier 22. Song Sparrow (v) 23. American Kestrel 24. American Goldfinch (v) 25. Osprey 26. Common Yellowthroat 27. Savannah Sparrow 28. Eastern Bluebird
Elsewhere
29. Carolina Wren (v) 30. Wild Turkey
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
