This morning dawned sunny and cool. My first look out the window brought me face-to-face—well at a distance—with first-of-year Field Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow along with white-throats, songs, and and a cowbird. Such activity prompted an earlier-than-usual hike with Jack.

Not a disappointment: 21 species, including first-of-year Tree Swallows. Plenty of activity elsewhere, too, including a late-in-the-day (first-of-year) Double-Crested Cormorant flying over my back yard.

It’s happening.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Northern Cardinal** (v)
2. Song Sparrow*
3. American Robin* (v)
4. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
5. Chipping Sparrow†*
6. Brown-headed Cowbird*
7. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)
8. Turkey Vulture
9. Palm Warbler
10. Tree Swallow†
11. American Kestrel
12. Eastern Bluebird
13. Herring Gull*
14. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker† (drumming)
15. Northern Flicker (v)
16. American Crow*
17. Yellow-rumped Warbler
18. Purple Finch (v)
19. Eastern Phoebe**
20. American Goldfinch**
21. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)

Elsewhere

22. Field Sparrow†
23. White-throated Sparrow
24. House Finch
25. European Starling
26. Double-crested Cormorant†

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