Here’s a picture of a Red-eyed Vireo. It’s a common species in the spring and summer woodland trails I hike with dog each day. These vireos flit around fairly high in the canopy, where the hardwood leaves provide good cover, and it’s a challenge to get a decent photo.
Today, this one paused and posed.
Otherwise, an interesting hike: heard (then saw, in high flight) a Greater Yellowlegs; heard the first Pileated Woodpecker in a while; saw a bunch of later-summer dragonflies and butterflies. I lovely morning.
Looks like tomorrow morning we’ll be hiking in rain showers. Which is better than fine. (We need rain.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:32 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay (v) 2. American Goldfinch** 3. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 4. American Crow* (v) 5. Red-eyed Vireo** 6. Ovenbird 7. Eastern Towhee 8. Purple Finch 9. Eastern Wood-pewee 10. Brown Creeper (v) 11. Yellow-rumped Warbler (v) 12. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 13. Alder Flycatcher (v) 14. Gray Catbird** 15. Song Sparrow** 16. Cedar Waxwing 17. Yellow Warbler (v) 18. Savannah Sparrow 19. Common Yellowthroat (v) 20. American Robin (v) 21. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 22. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 23. Tufted Titmouse 24. Greater Yellowlegs 25. Chestnut-sided Warbler
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Had an eerie sense of déjà vu during my Beech Hill hike with Jack this early morning. As if caught between two times and places. After thousands of hikes up the hill over the years, we took a couple-three years off—and still I feel kind of caught in between Utah and Maine.
The trails were wider, the trailside underbrush cleared out. (No doubt this helps discourage black-legged ticks.) But after following all trails today, I felt I’d recollected all there is to know about the place. I’m sure that’s not entirely true—but still.
Thirty-two bird species. (Yay!) Among them many old familiar faces, beaks, eyes, habits. Could hardly stop searching—then admiring—whenever we’d hear the voice of a new bird.
A very fun morning.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:58 a.m., I hiked all trails.
The towhees were singing this morning at Beech Hill. “Drink your tea!” all over the place. I put together a little video.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.
I also got a look (or listen) at three first-of-year species—including a Black-throated Green warbler, which was wholly unexpected and seemed kind of early, actually. Third warbler of the season.
Also got a nice look at a raven. Noticed a Great Blue Heron flying over only because it flashed a little shadow as it passed between me and the sun.
Sunny, a little breezy, warmer than it’s been in a while. I even went on an eighteen-mile bicycle ride this afternoon. Also a first of the year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
2. American Robin
3. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)
4. Bue Jay (v)
5. American Goldfinch** (v)
6. Purple Finch (v)
7. Red-winged Blackbird
8. Eastern Towhee
9. Mourning Dove* (v)
10. White-throated Sparrow
11. Greater Yellowlegs† (v)
12. Yellow-rumped Warbler
13. Song Sparrow**
14. American Crow*
15. Herring Gull*
16. Eastern Phoebe
17. Northern Cardinal** (v)
18. Chipping Sparrow** (v)
19. Tree Swallow
20. Northern Flicker** (v)
21. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming)
22. Great Blue Heron†
23. Savannah Sparrow
24. Common Raven
25. Downy Woodpecker
26. Pine Warbler (v)
27. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
28. Black-throated Green Warbler† (v)
29. Osprey
Elsewhere
30. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
30. House Sparrow (v)
31. Northern Mockingbird
32. Rock Pigeon
33. Canada Goose
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
