Overcast and chilly when dog and I headed up to the preserve. Ordinarily I’d take us to the main trail, where the open air would brighten things photographically—but I spied a scrap or two of blue, so decided on the wooded trailhead. It was the right decision. Not only did the sun emerge, but the morning got warm and humid in a hurry.
And a bunch of birds showed up.
Corvids, nuthatches, thrushes, finches, warblers, woodpeckers, sparrows. Many, many yellow-rumps (about 90, I figured) and a good-sized flock of robins. Surprised a woodcock (no photo, dangit). But the highlight was likely a solitary Blackpoll Warbler—first of year on the hill for me.
No photo of the blackpoll, but here’s a Hermit Thrush.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:25 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow 2. Yellow-rumped Warbler 3. American Goldfinch (v) 4. Blue Jay (v) 5. Brown Creeper 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Eastern Bluebird (v) 8. Blackpoll Warbler 9. Purple Finch 10. Tufted Titmouse (v) 11. Northern Flicker (v) 12. American Robin 13. Eastern Towhee (v) 14. Hermit Thrush 15. American Woodcock 16. White-throated Sparrow 17. Gray Catbird 18. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 19. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 20. Savannah Sparrow 21. Osprey 22. Song Sparrow (v) 23. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 24. Downy Woodpecker (v) 25. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
Elsewhere
26. Carolina Wren (v) 27. Herring Gull 28. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
The Prairie Warbler persists. Several years ago, when I heard (then saw) my first Prairie Warbler at Beech Hill, it was above all a thrill. A “rare” sighting, a lovely singer, a pretty little jewel of a bird. Then a couple-three years later, I began to hear more of them singing during spring migration.
And then I moved to Utah. Not quite three years later, I’m back. And Prairie Warblers are, too.
Jack-my-dog and I began hiking the Beech Hill trails again on 01 May, and in the month since, I’ve heard and/or seen Prairie Warblers most days, I think. One in particular seems to have decided to take up residence. I suspect it’s yet another sign of the changing climate, the changing ranges of birds of various kinds.
On the one hand, it’s a delight to see and hear this cool bird regularly; on the other… What have we humans wrought?
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:28 a.m., I hiked most trails.