A glorious morning with a mostly overcast sky, clouds coming and going, not too chilly, fairly calm, few bird species—bluebirds, tits, a flicker—but a noteworthy sighting nonetheless: a Snowshoe Hare in winter garb.
I saw a couple-three hares last spring when first dog and I began again to hike Beech Hill—not too shy, either—but they were wearing brown coats. There’s just something about the white fur of a critter with “snow” in its name. In fact, I saw it up ahead, crossing the trail, and thought it’d probably high-tailed it into the woods. But in a glance that way I happened to spot it under a clump little fallen trees. Just staring at us, posing.
So I took its picture.
Then, on our way home, I happened to see a red-tail alighting in a tree along the road. Pulled over, enabled my flashers, and took its picture, too.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:32 a.m., I hiked all trails.
After a luscious stretch of wet, rainy weather—still puddles on the trails, ahhh!—the sun made an appearance this morning, brightening the aspects of a goodly number of wild birds.
Notable: heard a pair of bluebirds, watched a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers in conversation, had a raven flyover, and got a decent photo of a Swamp Sparrow (a species I’m starting to like a lot—but never fear Savannah Sparrow, my favorite!).
Also noteworthy: I watched a yellow-rump dine on the waxy fruit of the Northern Bayberry—which only yellow-rumps can do.
A truly fun and happy hike with Captain Jack this morning.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:14 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Yellow-rumped Warbler 2. Eastern Bluebird (v) 3. Purple Finch (v) 4. Black-capped Chickadee** 5. Brown Creeper (v) 6. American Robin (v) 7. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 8. Hairy Woodpecker 9. American Crow* 10. Swamp Sparrow 11. Common Raven 12. Eastern Towhee (v) 13. Song Sparrow 14. Blue Jay** 15. American Goldfinch 16. Tufted Titmouse (v) 17. Red-tailed Hawk 18. Northern Flicker (v)
Elsewhere
19. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
It was pretty warm already when Captain Jack and I hit the lower wooded trail this morning, earlier than the past few. Mid- to upper-60s to start (and mid- to upper-70s when we got done). So it was a bit slow for Jack, with his thick coat and all.
But we made it OK—and my list happened to end up with a bodacious number of bird species.
Three of which were firsts-of-year, none of which I saw—but their voices gave ’em away (Wood Thrush, Least Flycatcher, and Scarlet Tanager). Maybe tomorrow I’ll get a photo of one or the other.
Mid-may is a wondrous time of year for a bird nerd.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:17 a.m., I hiked all trails.
