It’s nearing the end of May, and the spring greenery has by now burst forth all over the place. This can make birding a little frustrating—more places for the little winged critters to hide—but even so, I somehow ended up with four dozen species on my list this morning. Including three firsts-of-year.
The FOY species: Least Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-pewee, Alder Flycatcher—all favorites (especially the pewee, thanks to its amazing song). At least partly responsible for the nice count: a light southerly wind for a change.
Taking photos can be a challenge what with all the leaves and such, but I rather dig a challenge and expect to get pics of these three at some point.
We’re gonna get an overnight rain which will pass about the time dog and I embark on our Sunday morning hike. Can use the water, though, as it’s been dry. (Then again the dryness might be the reason I haven’t found more deer ticks yet this year.) Bring it on, Nature. I’m looking forward to it.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:21 p.m. sun time (7:21 DST), I hiked all trails.
This morning Captain Jack and I led a bird walk along the sunny, warming trails of Beech Hill Preserve. A real good number of folks (twenty-ish?) showed up, and the universe smiled on us.
Right away, birds—and among them, again, plenty of them warblers.
Other noteworthy birds were a pair of calling Broad-winged Hawks, a drumming Pileated Woodpecker, a photogenic kestrel, a plethora of towhees. But for the second straight day, I tallied two first-of-year warblers—a Yellow Warbler, and (my favorite) a Black-throated Blue Warbler. (The latter even posed for a nice photo.)
It was fun to tell a few stories of the hill, to offer a few tips, to recall some humorous bird-related memories. An auspicious day, this 9th of May.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:30 a.m. sun time (7:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
Weather-wise, the morning began overcast and lowery but ended with a half-blue sky and lovely light. Above, more Broad-winged Hawks moving through, and Turkey Vultures. Also a random vee of twenty Double-crested Cormorants (first-of-year birds at Beech Hill).
Crows and ravens and jays and many sparrows. Woodpeckers and finches and thrushes. I could possibly feel content if a day like this one repeated until the day I died.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:45 a.m. real time (7:45 DST), I hiked all trails.
