Bright and warmer than yesterday, with a haze and a whisper of wind. On the hill, bird activity is ongoing—albeit in the shadows. Adults feeding keening fledglings, second nests being built, the urgent business of ensuring survival of the species.
I love these warm days of firsts—first-blooming wildflowers, first-appearing butterflies, peek at blueberries. I haven’t seen wood lilies yet, although they should be showing up any any now. As should the first tiny berries of blue.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:15 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Red-eye Vireo** (v)
2. American Robin* (V)
3. American Redstart (v)
4. Song Sparrow**
5. Common Yellowthroat**
6. Chipping Sparrow**
7. Ovenbird (v)
8. Mourning Dove* (v)
9. Eastern Towhee
10. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
11. Alder Flycatcher (v)
12. Tree Swallow
13. Gray Catbird*
14. American Crow*
15. American Goldfinch**
16. Field Sparrow (v)
17. Yellow Warbler (v)
18. Blue Jay (v)
19. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v)
20. Eastern Phoebe
21. Eastern Bluebird
22. Purple Finch (v)
23. Cedar Waxwing
24. Northern Cardinal (v)
25. Veery (v)
26. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Elsewhere
27. Herring Gull
28. Rock Pigeon
29. Red-winged Blackbird
30. Downy Woodpecker (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
