It rained for a while this morning, but the rain moved through in a relative hurry, leaving dog’s and my hiking hill cloaked in fog. A few birds made themselves known early—very few—but the excitement waited until we were following the muddy wooded trails.
As often happens, it started with the voices of chickadees, voices I pay attention to, considering they typically have travel with an entourage. And that was the case this morning. And among the species in the chickadees’ little posse flitted a single Wilson’s Warbler—the first Wilson’s I’ve seen since our return from Salt Lake City nearly a year and a half ago.
This was the second straight day with evidence of the start of fall migration.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:14 a.m. EST (8:14 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Northern Flicker (v) 2. Gray Catbird 3. Song Sparrow 4. Common Yellowthroat 5. American Goldfinch 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. White-breasted Nuthatch 8. Eastern Bluebird 9. Eastern Wood-pewee 10. Hairy Woodpecker 11. Red-eyed Vireo 12. American Redstart 13. Wilson’s Warbler 14. Eastern Towhee 15. Cedar Waxwing 16. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 17. Blue Jay
Elsewhere
18. Carolina Wren 19. American Crow 20. Herring Gull 21. Rock Pigeon 22. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
The forecast called for cloudy skies until afternoon, when scattered thundershowers were possible. In fact, soon after dog and I started up the main trail, it began to rain. Not a gully-washer, just a regular rain shower. The morning was warm enough, with not much wind, and it felt pretty great.
We only did half a hike, though, and so today’s list has far fewer species than usual. And tonight brings a chance of thundershowers. No thunder yet, though.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:52 a.m. EST (7:52 DST), I hiked the open trail.
1. Eastern Phoebe 2. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 3. American Crow (v) 4. Ovenbird (v) 5. American Robin 6. Song Sparrow 7. Eastern Bluebird 8. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 9. American Goldfinch (v) 10. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 11. Eastern Towhee (v) 12. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 13. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 14. Common Yellowthroat 15. Yellow Warbler (v) 16. Gray Catbird (v)
Elsewhere
17. Northern Cardinal (v) 18. Pine Warbler (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
In the cool 60s (F) this morning, with another low layer of fog obscuring things. Soon after Captain Jack and I began our ascent (via the main trail) a light rain began to fall. It didn’t rain for long—but we remained wet while walking through that cloud.
Quite a few birds species, nevertheless—among them a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak with a couple of moths in its beak. A singing Veery also posed, but it’s hard to get an award-winning photo in such dark, dim, gray conditions.
Down on the wooded trail, I heard distant thunder and figured we’d better pick up our pace. But after a few more rumbles, the thunder stopped, and it began to rain lightly again as we descended.
I suppose the thunder was a preview of what’s forecast for tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:12 a.m. EST (8:12 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Mourning Dove 2. Chestnut-sided Warbler 3. Red-eyed Vireo 4. American Robin 5. Song Sparrow 6. Northern Cardinal 7. American Crow 8. American Goldfinch 9. Ovenbird 10. Black-throated Green Warbler 11. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 12. Cedar Waxwing 13. Common Yellowthroat 14. Gray Catbird 15. Eastern Towhee 16. Northern Parula 17. Blue Jay 18. Black-capped Chickadee 19. Yellow Warbler 20. Downy Woodpecker 21. Hermit Thrush 22. Eastern Wood-pewee 23. White-breasted Nuthatch 24. Veery 25. American Redstart 26. Black-and-white Warbler 27. Northern Flicker 28. Brown Creeper
Elsewhere
29. Rock Pigeon 30. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
