A bit of light snow fell overnight, making this morning’s hike an intermittently slippery one. Neither Jack nor I fell down, though. Few birds, lot’s of scenic views.
Later, at the harbor, I took a picture of a lonesome Bufflehead.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
Had more birds on my hill list than any other day this year so far. No first-of-years again, but the singing Prairie Warbler was cool. Also nice to have a few tee up for me.
Eastern Towhee.
Coolish—sweatshirt cool. Not window, though. Lots of sun. A lengthening photoperiod.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Ovenbird** (v)
2. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
3. Black-and-white Warbler
4. Eastern Phoebe
5. Hermit Thrush
6. White-breasted Nuthatch
7. Great Crested Flycatcher (v)
8. Wild Turkey
9. Northern Flicker (v)
10. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
11. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
12. Gray Catbird
13. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
14. Herring Gull*
15. Eastern Towhee
16. Song Sparrow**
17. American Goldfinch**
18. Veery (v)
19. Blue Jay** (v)
20. Common Yellowthroat**
21. Tree Swallow
22. Northern Cardinal
23. Yellow-rumped Warbler
24. Savannah Sparrow
25. Prairie Warbler (v)
26. Chipping Sparrow**
27. Field Sparrow
28. American Robin
29. American Crow*
30. Brown-headed Cowbird
31. Downy Woodpecker (v)
32. Northern Parula (v)
33. Purple Finch
34. Turkey Vulture
35. Common Raven
36. Chestnut-sided Warbler
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Cool and cloudless early, warm with a few clouds late. Seventy-something degrees (F) warm—and birdy.
Three first-of-year species: American Redstart (been waiting on this one), Nashville Warbler (first confirmed singer), and Scarlet Tanager (just mentioned this bird to a fellow hiker not ten minutes before I heard two of ’em singing down in the woods trail.
Interloper (Tree Swallows).
This day represented a breakthrough of sorts—a break through the meteorological obstructions to migration.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked all trails.
