This morning was cloudy and blue, with a breeze—but not a cold one. Also plenty of black flies. Which of course meant warblers. Lots of warblers. Also vireos, thrushes, woodpeckers, etc.

This is that time of year when you never know what you might encounter. Today I spied two species I don’t see often—maybe once every three years or so. Eastern Kingbird and Swainson’s Thrush. The thing I love about such birds is that I know then when I see them, despite there being a bunch of days between sightings.

Other species like that are yesterday’s first-of-year (Blackburnian Warbler) and the Swamp Sparrow I saw some weeks ago.

Tomorrow will bring rain—but also perhaps surprises.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hike the open trail.

1. American Robin*
2. Ovenbird (v)
3. Northern Cardinal** (v)
4. Black-throated Green Warbler
5. American Redstart**
6. American Goldfinch** (v)
7. Chestnut-sided Warbler**
8. Black-and-white Warbler
9. Veery (v)
10. Red-eyed Vireo
11. Hairy Woodpecker
12. Scarlet Tanager
13. Great Crested Flycatcher (v)
14. Eastern Towhee
15. Gray Catbird** (v)
16. Northern Parula
17. Common Yellowthroat**
18. Pileated Woodpecker
19. Tree Swallow
20. Yellow Warbler (v)
21. American Crow* (v)
22. Purple Finch (v)
23. Northern Flicker (v)
24. Song Sparrow**
25. Alder Flycatcher
26. Eastern Phoebe*
27. American Kestrel
28. Field Sparrow (v)
29. Eastern Kingbird†
30. Common Raven
31. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
32. Wood thrush (v)
33. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v)
34. Hermit Thrush (v)
35. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
36. Downy Woodpecker (v)
37. Blue-headed Vireo (v)
38. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
39. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)

Elsewhere

40. Chipping Sparrow
41. House Finch (v)
42. Herring Gull
43. Rock Pigeon
44. House Sparrow (v)
45. European Starling
46. Wild Turkey

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird