Another sunny day, and a mild one. My hike with dog was a tiny bit chilly to start—but it was downright hot when we got done. High temps in the 80s (F) today.
The birds were perhaps a bit quieter than on recent days, but my list still added up to thirty-four species. Notable was a persisting Prairie Warbler and a pair of hawks on the wing.
Tomorrow’s high is supposed to be twenty degrees cooler. Will be interesting to see how different my list will be.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:30 p.m. sun time (7:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
Blue sky, cool temps, and a nice breeze greeted dog and me as we started up the wooded trail. Plenty of birds were there to greet us, too.
It didn’t seem at first that I’d have much of a list, but the higher we got, the more birds I saw or heard. And then—as has happened in recent days—we hiked a ways down the Erickson Fields trail down toward Beech Hill Road and added a bunch more species.
Notable today was a first-of-year Canada Warbler. I didn’t get a look at it, but the Merlin app insisted that’s what made the quick little jumble of a warble I was hearing across the road—and after we got home I matched my GoPro recording with the Cornell Labs’. (Wish I’d got a peek.)
Similar weather expected tomorrow. Will I encounter another first of year?
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:31 p.m. sun time (7:31 DST), I hiked all trails.
I had an early appointment this morning, so for the first time in—I think—years, dog and I took our hike in afternoon. The light was bright, the air was cool, the winds were high, the birds were sparser than at earlier hours. However, it was as fun as ever.
A couple dozen species total, with the most notable bird being a Hermit Thrush that popped up on a little snag just in front of us and posed for photos. Also two hawks and a vulture. Several warblers.
The early excursion involved a drive to Portland, so on the way I got some unusual (for me) birds while zipping past.
Tomorrow will be early, as usual. Maybe a first-of-year species or two?
Beech Hill List Beginning at 12:10 p.m. sun time (1:10 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Ovenbird (v) 2. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v) 3. Song Sparrow (v) 4. American Goldfinch (v) 5. Black-and-white Warbler** (v) 6. Brown Creeper (v) 7. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 8. Eastern Towhee 9. Northern Cardinal (v) 10. Chestnut-sided Warbler 11. Hermit Thrush 12. American Crow* 13. Blue Jay (v) 14. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 15. Field Sparrow (v) 16. Yellow Warbler (v) 17. Turkey Vulture 18. Red-tailed Hawk 19. Broad-winged Hawk 20. Chipping Sparrow 21. Herring Gull* 22. Eastern Phoebe** 23. Tufted Titmouse (v) 24. Purple Finch (v)
Elsewhere
25. Mallard 26. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 27. European Starling 28. Double-crested Cormorant 29. Osprey 30. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
