The sky was blue, the air was warm, the wind was high, the trail was dryer than it’s been in a while—and the overall feeling was one of spring.
And by golly, the birds showed up. A year-so-far record of 28 species, including eagles, a harrier, kestrels, a red-tail, a flushed grouse, three woodpecker species—I could go on and on.
The coming weeks will fly by, and then the months, yet I hope to slow myself down to soak ’em right up. (Also took my bike in for a tuneup.)
P.S. First deer tick today, too.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:27 a.m. real time (7:27 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* 2. Northern Cardinal** (v) 3. Black-capped Chickadee* 4. Brown Creeper (v) 5. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 6. Downy Woodpecker** (v) 7. Tufted Titmouse** 8. Red-winged Blackbird 9. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 10. American Goldfinch 11. Ruffed Grouse 12. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 13. American Robin* 14. Eastern Bluebird 15. Herring Gull* 16. Blue Jay (v) 17. Golden-crowned Kinglet 18. Song Sparrow** 19. Common Loon 20. American Kestrel 21. Turkey Vulture 22. Wild Turkey* 23. Eastern Phoebe** (v) 24. Bald Eagle 25. Red-tailed Hawk 26. Northern Harrier 27. Canada Goose 28. Snow Bunting
Elsewhere
29. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
The Snow Bunting was still hanging out at the summit of Beech Hill when dog and I hiked up there this morning. It’s a non-breeding male that perhaps lost track of his clan. But maybe not, what do I know?
Quite windy, very bright but with clouds flying by. Thirteen species, and the feel of true spring, and the promise of more first-of-year species to come.
Tomorrow’s supposed to be similar, but less windy. Lookin’ forward to it.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:47 a.m. real time (7:47 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Tufted Titmouse 2. American Goldfinch 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. American Crow 5. Brown Creeper 6. Herring Gull 7. Northern Flicker 8. American Robin 9. Snow Bunting 10. Song Sparrow 11. Blue Jay 12. Red-breasted Nuthatch 13. Red-winged Blackbird
Elsewhere
14. Mallard 15. Northern Cardinal 16. Wild Turkey
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
This morning couldn’t have been much more different than yesterday morning—foggy, drippy, a coat of fresh snow, no sun all day. However, the Snow Bunting was still up at the summit of Beech Hill
In fact, I was rather astounded to have a dozen birds on my list today—although I probably shouldn’t have been. It’s April after all.
Tomorrow will be windy and colder and brighter. Should be interesting.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:47 a.m. real time (7:47 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Blue Jay (v) 2. Tufted Titmouse** 3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 4. American Crow* (v) 5. Hairy Woodpecker* (v) 6. Dark-eyed Junco (v) 7. Song Sparrow** 8. Black-capped Chickadee* 9. Herring Gull* (v) 10. Snow Bunting 11. American Robin** (v) 12. Eastern Bluebird (v)
Elsewhere
13. Mallard 14. Northern Cardinal
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
