Eastern Phoebe nestings.

Glorious day. Gave my Birds of Beech Hill presentation this morning to rave reviews (when I think of myself as a complete impostor—albeit an enthusiastic one). Worked a bunch. Finally got out in it late this afternoon.

Eastern Phoebe with dragonfly.

In going over a calendar year’s worth of bird photos, I got a renewed taste of what happens here on the 44th parallel, bird-wise, at which times of year. And June is the time of year for nestlings. You see the little birds with bugs in their bills—including a phoebe down near the parking lot with a large dragonfly. You see the hawks with prey winging their way back to wherever the nest is (like the broad-wing I saw today with what looked like a small passerine in its talons). You see the sapsuckers frantically flying to and fro, to and fro.

Come July, there will be fledglings. And come August, young migrants will be nearly ready to fly.

It all happens according to a schedule. So efficient. So fast.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Eastern Phoebe**
2. Ovenbird (v)
3. American Goldfinch
4. Chestnut-sided Warbler** (v)
5. Eastern Towhee
6. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
7. American Robin (v)
8. Mourning Dove (v)
9. Common Raven (v)
10. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
11. Black-and-White Warbler
12. American Redstart (v)
13. Song Sparrow**
14. Veery (v)
15. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
16. Yellow Warbler** (v)
17. Savannah Sparrow
18. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
19. Alder Flycatcher (v)
20. Purple Finch (v)
21. Common Yellowthroat
22. Broad-winged Hawk
23. White-breasted Nuthatch
24. Chipping Sparrow (v)

Elsewhere

25. American Crow
26. Northern Cardinal (v)
27. Herring Gull
28. House Sparrow
29. Wild Turkey
30. Cedar Waxwing (v)

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere