This morning early as we hiked up the wooded trail, dog and I, the sun was out and the air was warm. Warm for the time of day, that is—and not long after, just plain warm. And that warmth drew the insects out. And the insects drew the warblers (and other birds).
My count today—much to my surprise—topped my previous count for the year (by one). Plus, I had two first-of-year birds: Chestnut-sided Warbler and Northern Parula.
Returning down the trail, in fact, we encountered a little warbler fallout—yellow-rump, black-throated green, parula. How fun the next few days will be.
(Also got a pretty nice photo of my favorite sparrow.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:04 a.m. real time (7:04 DST), I hiked all trails.
Another warm, albeit less windy, mostly blue-sky morning. Birds were active, singing, calling, drumming, flitting around. Many Palm Warblers, a pair of kestrels at the summit, and first-of-year Field Sparrow and Tree Swallows.
Each day lately I’ve been trying to imagine what species will appear next. So far, I’ve predicted a few. What now? White-throat? Chippie? Broad-wing?
Can hardly wait until another lovely morning tomorrow to find out.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:34 a.m. real time (7:34 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Song Sparrow** 2. Eastern Phoebe* 3. Common Raven 4. Tufted Titmouse** (v) 5. Black-capped Chickadee* 6. American Robin 7. Brown Creeper 8. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 9. Palm Warbler 10. Downy Woodpecker 11. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 12. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 13. Northern Cardinal** (v) 14. American Goldfinch (v) 15. American Crow* 16. Eastern Bluebird 17. Yellow-rumped Warbler 18. Field Sparrow† 19. Mourning Dove 20. Tree Swallow† 21. Brown-headed Cowbird 22. Herring Gull* 23. Red-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 24. Red-winged Blackbird 25. American Kestrel 26. Common Loon (v) 27. Turkey Vulture
Elsewhere
28. Mallard 29. House Finch (v) 30. House Sparrow (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Cooled off a lot overnight, and dawn revealed a foggy landscape. Drippy trees, but only a little drizzle during my hike with my favorite dog of all time.
Nearly thirty species despite the lowery weather. No new migrants, but Wood Thrush and Scarlet Tanager again. (Two of the former, in fact.) Saw no one else on the damp hill until we’d almost finished our hike, when we met a little batch of kids being led in the drizzle by (what appeared to be) two dads.
(Start ’em young, young parents. Get those kiddos out in the woods.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:25 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Ovenbird** 2. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v) 3. Tufted Titmouse (v) 4. Pine Warbler** (v) 5. Eastern Phoebe* 6. Northern Parula 7. Blue Jay 8. Chestnut-sided Warbler 9. Black-and-white Warbler 10. American Crow* (v) 11. American Robin 12. Northern Cardinal** (v) 14. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 15. Northern Flicker (v) 16. Eastern Towhee 17. Common Yellowthroat 18. Song Sparrow** 19. Yellow Warbler (v) 20. Wild Turkey 21. Tree Swallow 22. White-throated Sparrow (v) 23. Field Sparrow (v) 24. Hermit Thrush (v) 25. Chipping Sparrow (v) 26. Yellow-rumped Warbler 27. Mourning Dove 28. Wood Thrush (v) 29. Scarlet Tanager (v)
Elsewhere
30. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
