In the wee hours this morning, dog and I were awakened by a lightning strike about a block away. Crack! (So near, there was no rumble following.) And then it began to rain. I checked the weather radar, and a solitary thundershower was basically centered directly above us—the only precipitation in the state.
By daylight, much of the rain had evaporated in the warm air, turning it muggy. And during our hike, the birds were quieter than on recent mornings. But, as always, we were both amused and inspired.
Most notable: a solitary brown thrasher popped up between the woods and open fields. A first-of-year bird.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. American Crow* (v) 3. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 4. American Goldfinch** 5. Hermit Thrush 6. Black-capped Chickadee** 7.White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 8. Eastern Wood-pewee 9. Tufted Titmouse (v) 10. Northern Flicker 11. Downy Woodpeckers 12. Eastern Towhee 13. Alder Flycatcher 14. Gray Catbird 15. Song Sparrow* 16. Common Yellowthroat 17. Cedar Waxwing 18. Yellow Warbler (v) 19. Barn Swallow 20. American Robin* 21. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 22. House Wren (v) 23. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 24. Least Flycatcher (v) 25. Brown Thrasher† 26. Northern Cardinal* (v)
Elsewhere
27. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year