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
This morning’s lovely, muggy, coolish, sunny hike up Beech Hill with dog was a good ’un. Heard and saw a lot of birds, had a couple casual chats with good folks, felt like an integral part of the world around me.
Here are a couple photos that sort of size up this crazy cool day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:31 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Blue Jay (v) 3. American Crow* 4. Northern Cardinal (v) 5. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 6. Eastern Towhee 7. Eastern Wood-pewee 8. American Goldfinch 9. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 10. Black-capped Chickadee 11. Tufted Titmouse (v) 12. Brown Creeper (v) 13. Hairy Woodpecker 14. Northern Flicker (v) 15. Hermit Thrush 16. American Robin 17. Alder Flycatcher (v) 18. Gray Catbird 19. Cedar Waxwing 20. Yellow Warbler 21. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 22. Common Yellowthroat 23. Song Sparrow** 24. Field Sparrow (v) 25. Common Raven 26. Eastern Phoebe (v) 27. Mourning Dove* 28. Downy Woodpecker (v) 29. Eastern Bluebird 30. Red-bellied Woodpecker
Elsewhere
31. Mallard 32. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Three years ago today, I was hauling a trailer full of my (and Jack’s) belongings and moving to Salt Lake City. Three months ago, we returned—and glad we did. [Not that I didn’t enjoy the high desert.] Today was a good representation of why: a cool morning hike, clean, fragrant air, many birds to observe, a long view of the bay.
Notable today were three woodpecker species that made their presences known within a few minutes of each other, several bird families (adults and juvies, among them nuthatches, sparrows, waxwings), and crows chasing a hawk.
Loved this morning, and looking forward to the next.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:15 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. American Crow* 3. Song Sparrow** 4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 6. Ovenbird 7. American Goldfinch 8. Eastern Towhee 9. Hermit Thrush 10. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 11. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 12. Tufted Titmouse (v) 13. Brown Creeper (v) 14. American Robin 15. Hairy Woodpecker 16. Downy Woodpecker (v) 17. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 18. Eastern Towhee 19. Alder Flycatcher (v) 20. Common Yellowthroat 21. Gray Catbird 22. Chestnut-sided Warbler 23. Cedar Waxwing 24. Chipping Sparrow 25. Field Sparrow 26. Savannah Sparrow 27. Blue-headed Vireo 28. Blue Jay (v) 29. House Wren (v) 30. Herring Gull* 31. Broad-winged Hawk 32. Turkey Vulture 33. Yellow Warbler (v) 34. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
Elsewhere
35. Mourning Dove
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
