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
A bit of a late start this overcast morning, thinking it might get bright enough for photos eventually. Dim it was, and pretty quiet up the wooded trails, but things got interesting at the summit again.
House Finch was new. Another oriole (which I didn’t frankly notice until I saw the photo many hours later). Bluebirds. Big birds—osprey, gull, vulture. But most exciting was probably the big ol’ fly hatch in the summit spruce grove, which had waxwings (and bluebirds) going nuts. Also a nice chat with some friends.
I’d repeat this hike. It was a good ’un.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:53 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. American Crow* 2. American Goldfinch** 3. Red-eyed Vireo** 4. Eastern Towhee 5. Hermit Thrush (v) 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Eastern Wood-pewee 8. Tufted Titmouse (v) 9. Blue Jay (v) 10. Northern Cardinal** (v) 11. Gray Catbird 12. Common Yellowthroat 13. Alder Flycatcher (v) 14. Song Sparrow 15. Baltimore Oriole 16. House Wren (v) 17. Cedar Waxwing 18. Eastern Wood-pewee 19. Downy Woodpecker (v) 20. House Finch 21. American Robin 22. Eastern Bluebird 23. Field Sparrow (v) 24. Herring Gull* 25. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 26. Yellow Warbler (v) 27. Tree Swallow 28. Osprey 29. Turkey Vulture 30. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
Elsewhere
31. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
