An overcast morning, calm and cool. Birds weren’t particularly vocal, so I wondered if the atmospheric conditions might keep this morning’s numbers down—but it turned out they were flitting all over the place.
Notable was a sapsucker that popped up as I was angling for photos of (I believe) a hummingbird. Three thrushes, nine warblers, two birds posing with nesting materials in their beaks (catbird and robin). One of the thrushes was a Prairie Warbler.
No first-of-years, but dog and I didn’t mind.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:05 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 3. Ovenbird** 4. Black-throated Green Warbler* (v) 5. American Crow* 6. Northern Parula (v) 7. Northern Cardinal (v) 8. Gray Catbird 9. Black-capped Chickadee 10. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 11. Veery (v) 12. American Goldfinch* 13. American Redstart (v) 14. Eastern Towhee 15. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 16. Black-and-white Warbler 17. Common Yellowthroat (v) 18. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 19. Blue Jay 20. Hermit Thrush 21. Tufted Titmouse** 22. Song Sparrow* 23. Yellow Warbler (v) 24. Common Raven 25. Field Sparrow 26. Eastern Phoebe* (v) 27. Prairie Warbler 28. Tree Swallow 29. American Robin 30. Savannah Sparrow 31. Nashville Warbler 32. Wood Thrush (v) 33. Eastern Bluebird
Had three more first-of-year birds this morning, much to my surprise and delight. Just about every hike with dog has been a delightful surprise since our return, in fact. This morning’s brought first Veery, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Alder Flycatcher of 2022.
Veery (first of year).
A nice hike otherwise, too—chilly, but not too chilly, overcast but not too overcast. Also interesting were the four Wood Ducks that showed up in the green grassy lawn next door.
Rained this eve. Supposed to get warmer this upcoming weekend.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:12 a.m., I hiked most trails.
Cooled off a lot overnight, and dawn revealed a foggy landscape. Drippy trees, but only a little drizzle during my hike with my favorite dog of all time.
Nearly thirty species despite the lowery weather. No new migrants, but Wood Thrush and Scarlet Tanager again. (Two of the former, in fact.) Saw no one else on the damp hill until we’d almost finished our hike, when we met a little batch of kids being led in the drizzle by (what appeared to be) two dads.
(Start ’em young, young parents. Get those kiddos out in the woods.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:25 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Ovenbird** 2. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v) 3. Tufted Titmouse (v) 4. Pine Warbler** (v) 5. Eastern Phoebe* 6. Northern Parula 7. Blue Jay 8. Chestnut-sided Warbler 9. Black-and-white Warbler 10. American Crow* (v) 11. American Robin 12. Northern Cardinal** (v) 14. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 15. Northern Flicker (v) 16. Eastern Towhee 17. Common Yellowthroat 18. Song Sparrow** 19. Yellow Warbler (v) 20. Wild Turkey 21. Tree Swallow 22. White-throated Sparrow (v) 23. Field Sparrow (v) 24. Hermit Thrush (v) 25. Chipping Sparrow (v) 26. Yellow-rumped Warbler 27. Mourning Dove 28. Wood Thrush (v) 29. Scarlet Tanager (v)
Elsewhere
30. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
