Great crested flycatcher.

Another rainy morning, but the sun did not emerge in afternoon this day—instead. a thick fog descended to within a few score feet of sea level. By the time Jack and I ended up at Beech Hill, it was late, foggy, muddy, chilly. I didn’t expect a very active day, birding-wise.

Highbush blueberry blossoms.

However, I saw or heard a surprising number of species. Nothing outlandish or new, but I did get a nice look at a great crested flycatcher down along the lower wooded trail.

Anyway, there’s something sweet and luxuriant about a chilly wet spring day like this. Water, liquidity, mud, viscosity—those are the things that, argulably, life is made of.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked all trails.

1. American robin**
2. Eastern towhee
3. Ovenbird** (v)
4. Purple finch (v)
5. Yellow warbler (v)
6. Chestnut-sided warbler
7. Chipping sparrow
8. Blue jay (v)
9. Eastern phoebe
10. Common yellowthroat
11. Herring gull* (v)
12. American crow*
13. Broad-winged hawk
14. Black-throated green warbler
15. Hermit thrush (v)
16. Tufted titmouse (v)
17. Wild turkey (v)
18. Great crested flycatcher
19. Black-and-white warbler (v)
20. Black-capped chickadee
21. American goldfinch
22. Rose-breasted grosbeak (v)
23. Gray catbird** (v)
24. Veery
25. Song sparrow** (v)
26. Northern cardinal** (v)
27. Nashville warbler (v)
28. American redstart (v)
29. Field sparrow (v)
30. Blue-headed vireo

Elsewhere

31. House finch
32. House sparrow (v)
33. European starling
34. Rock pigeon
35. Osprey
36. Mourning dove

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere