On our hike this foggy, misty morning, dog and I encountered a bird wave. Well, more like a ripple, perhaps—and Captain Jack didn’t really care to notice—but I found myself transfixed with the variety of little bird species flitting in the dewy greenery.
Coming up through the woods, few species. At the summit, one or two. Down toward the main gate of Beech Hill Preserve? A whole bunch of ’em.
A bit of a late start this overcast morning, thinking it might get bright enough for photos eventually. Dim it was, and pretty quiet up the wooded trails, but things got interesting at the summit again.
House Finch was new. Another oriole (which I didn’t frankly notice until I saw the photo many hours later). Bluebirds. Big birds—osprey, gull, vulture. But most exciting was probably the big ol’ fly hatch in the summit spruce grove, which had waxwings (and bluebirds) going nuts. Also a nice chat with some friends.
I’d repeat this hike. It was a good ’un.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:53 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. American Crow* 2. American Goldfinch** 3. Red-eyed Vireo** 4. Eastern Towhee 5. Hermit Thrush (v) 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Eastern Wood-pewee 8. Tufted Titmouse (v) 9. Blue Jay (v) 10. Northern Cardinal** (v) 11. Gray Catbird 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Alder Flycatcher (v) 14. Song Sparrow 15. Baltimore Oriole 16. House Wren (v) 17. Cedar Waxwing 18. Eastern Wood-pewee 19. Downy Woodpecker (v) 20. House Finch 21. American Robin 22. Eastern Bluebird 23. Field Sparrow (v) 24. Herring Gull* 25. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 26. Yellow Warbler (v) 27. Tree Swallow 28. Osprey 29. Turkey Vulture 30. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
Elsewhere
31. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Dog and I got to the trailhead a bit later than yesterday, but still we were the first in the parking lot. Not as warm as yesterday, not quite as cloudless, not quite so many mosquitos—but every bit as lovely, interesting, miraculous.
Snowshoe Hare.
Encountered thirty-three bird species and a Snowshoe Hare (with tick-infested ears, poor critter). Among the birds were a pair of Red-winged Blackbirds in overflight (not ID’d until after I viewed my photos later). Also a papa bluebird and mama Pileated Woodpecker, respectively with fledglings.
And for the first time in a long while, a Red-eyed Vireo posed for me.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:51 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Ovenbird 3. Northern Cardinal** (v) 4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 5. Hermit Thrush (v) 6. American Crow* 7. Veery 8. Hairy Woodpecker 9. American Redstart** (v) 10. Chestnut-sided Warbler 11. Gray Catbird 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. American Goldfinch (v) 14. Black-and-white Warbler 15. Black-capped Chickadee** 16. Eastern Towhee 17. Yellow Warbler 18. Pileated Woodpecker 19. Song Sparrow 20. Cedar Waxwing 21. Purple Finch (v) 22. Field Sparrow (v) 23. Red-winged Blackbird 24. Prairie Warbler 25. American Robin 26. White-breasted Nuthatch 27. Turkey Vulture 28. Tufted Titmouse (v) 29. Eastern Phoebe 30. Eastern Bluebird 31. Savannah Sparrow 32. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 33. Brown Creeper (v)
Elsewhere
34. Herring Gull 35. European Starling 36. House Sparrow
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk Snowshoe Hare
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
