Stayed up late last night, slept late-ish this morning. Captain Jack and I didn’t make it to the hill until about 8 o’clock sun time. Sunny and cool and breezy, didn’t think I’d list so many birds at the late hour—but turned out I matched yesterday’s total number of species.
No firsts-of-year, no lifers. Mostly the usual suspects (along with a calling Black-billed Cuckoo, a species I hope to catch sight of one day). Some posed, although my captures tended toward the plain.
Still, what a lovely morning, and what a magical place we get to hang out in every day, dog and me.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 9:01 a.m., I hiked most trails.
It was pretty warm already when Captain Jack and I hit the lower wooded trail this morning, earlier than the past few. Mid- to upper-60s to start (and mid- to upper-70s when we got done). So it was a bit slow for Jack, with his thick coat and all.
But we made it OK—and my list happened to end up with a bodacious number of bird species.
Three of which were firsts-of-year, none of which I saw—but their voices gave ’em away (Wood Thrush, Least Flycatcher, and Scarlet Tanager). Maybe tomorrow I’ll get a photo of one or the other.
Mid-may is a wondrous time of year for a bird nerd.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:17 a.m., I hiked all trails.
The woods are full of warblers, woodpeckers, thrushes and such. The barrens bring sparrows and hawks, bluebirds and swallows—and more.
It’s fortunate that Beech Hill has these two habitats, and the miraculous edges between the two. Day by day, you never really know what you’ll get (as you don’t most days wherever you roam), but the open fields are fine and fruitful. Airy. With long views.
Today I saw an Osprey fly over carrying a fish. I encountered territorial disputes among swallows. I heard the sweet voices of the Savannah Sparrows I love.
After my thousands of hikes with dog up there, I’m not sure I could handle one without the other.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:29 a.m., I hiked all trails.
