A bright chilly morning. Started slow, but soon enough warmed enough to set free some black flies, and the birds appeared slowly and steadily. My one first-of-year species I didn’t notice until I looked at photos (a Wilson’s Warbler vs a Yellow Warbler)—but lots of variety.
Blue Jays were conspicuous, others inconspicuous. A few quiet birds snuck onto the list (e.g., kingbirds, waxwings, Blackburnian warbler), a few noisy ones returned (e.g., Great Crested Flycatcher). No cuckoos today.
In a surprise twist, I took a dramatic tumble off a boardwalk, but no damage done to my person or optics, and Jack was amused.
All in all, another day of fun.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. Ovenbird 3. Blue Jay 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler 5. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 6. Veery 7. Hairy Woodpecker 8. Common Yellowthroat 9. Gray Catbird** 10. Wood Thrush (v) 11. Eastern Towhee 12. Yellow Warbler (v) 13. American Redstart 14. American Goldfinch** 15. Tufted Titmouse (v) 16. Scarlet Tanager 17. American Crow* 18. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 19. Downy Woodpecker (v) 20. Song Sparrow** 21. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 22. Purple Finch (v) 23. Tree Swallow 24. Alder Flycatcher 25. Eastern Kingbird 26. Cedar Waxwing 27. Field Sparrow (v) 28. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 29. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 30. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 31. Hermit Thrush (v) 32. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 33. Least Flycatcher (v) 34. Northern Flicker (v) 35. Mourning Dove (v) 36. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 37. Northern Parula (v) 38. Wilson’s Warbler† 39. Blackburnian Warbler
Elsewhere
40. House Finch (v) 41. Herring Gull 42. Bald Eagle
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year bird
Thick fog this morning, but it burned off by the time we got to the trailhead. And it turned out to be the best birding day of spring so far. Dozens of species, good looks, nice variety—but I forgot to turn on my GoPro.
Good hike though: first-of-year Maggie warb, decent photos. Fun and fruitful anyway.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
Led a bird walk this morning. It was a pretty fun time. Lots and lots of warblers (and other species) right near the trailhead first thing. Fewer birds higher up—and a stout northwest wind at the summit.
But also a loon at the summit. Kestrel. Broad-winged hawk. A coffee and pastries and a fireplace fire and classical guitar music in the hut.
Dog and I would surely enjoy day like this every day of the year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Robin* (v) 2. Black-throated Green Warbler 3. Ovenbird** 4. Northern Parula 5. Great Crested Flycatcher 6. Common Yellowthroat** 7. Black-capped Chickadee* (v) 8. White-breasted Nuthatch 9. Black-and-white Warbler 10. American Redstart 11. Blue Jay** (v) 12. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 13. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 14. White-throated Sparrow 15. Northern Cardinal (v) 16. Wood Thrush (v) 17. Blue-headed Vireo 18. Eastern Towhee 19. American Goldfinch 20. Tufted Titmouse (v) 21. American Crow 22. Field Sparrow (v) 23. Song Sparrow 24. Tree Swallow 25. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 26. Herring Gull* 27. American Kestrel 28. Common Loon 29. Broad-winged Hawk (v) 30. Hermit Thrush (v) 31. Veery 32. Black-throated Blue Warbler 33. Eastern Phoebe 34. Northern Flicker (v)
Seen/heard by others
35. Swainson’s Thrush 36. Blackburnian Warbler 37. Common Raven
Elsewhere
38. House Finch (v) 39. Chipping Sparrow
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
