Two Beech Hill hikes today: a quick, early one with Jack-my-dog, and a later, longer one with a group of curious kids on a middle school field trip. Both were fun.

Ten species early and another six later—the latter ones being most interesting (including an eagle accompanied by hawks). Alas, the last bird on my list was deceased: a dead Black-and-white Warbler I found lying along the trail near the summit. My guess is the bird flew into a window of the hut and managed to flutter across the lawn a ways before succumbing to its injuries. Whatever the case, it’s always sad to find a dead bird.

Migration is risky no matter who you are, and some migrants don’t make it to their destinations. I tossed the little warbler into a soft, shady patch of grass.

Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:30 a.m. EST (8:30 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Blue Jay** (v)
2. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
3. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
4. Hermit Thrush (v)
5. Brown Creeper (v)
6. Gray Catbird
7. Yellow-rumped Warbler
8. American Goldfinch
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. Eastern Bluebird
11. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
12. Turkey Vulture*
13. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
14. Red-shouldered Hawk
15. American Crow*
16. Bald Eagle
17. Black-and-white Warbler (deceased)

Elsewhere

18. Carolina Wren (v)
19. House Sparrow
20. Herring Gull

Mammals

Eastern Gray Squirrel
House Sparrow

Reptiles

Eastern Garter Snake

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year