Eastern Phoebe.

Muddy, raw, leafless, uncomfortable—yet April is not the cruelest month, in my mind. At least it ends, here at the 44th parallel, with the arrival of a nice little scattering of migrant birds.

The trees have eyes.

Today was more cloudy than yesterday. Beech Hill was far more crowded. But still I listed a couple dozen species—and added a couple nice first-0f-year birds. (Hello, little secret Savannah sparrow!) No great photos, given the dimness; none of birds, anyway. But despite the gloom and dampness and knowledge of deer ticks on every twig, I loved my two-plus hour hike with dog today.

Thank you, dear April, for all of it.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 10 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
2. American Robin*
3. Northern Cardinal** (v)
4. Purple Finch (v)
5. Eastern Phoebe
6. Black-capped Chickadee**
7. Yellow-rumped Warbler
8. American Crow*
9. Song Sparrow (v)
10. American Goldfinch (v)
11. Northern Flicker (v)
12. Eastern Towhee
13. Chipping Sparrow (v)
14. Savannah Sparrow†
15. Turkey Vulture*
16. Osprey
17. Herring Gull*
18. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v)
19. White-breasted Nuthatch**
20. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
21. Osprey
22. Brown Creeper (v)
23. Pine Warbler†
24. Tufted Titmouse (v)
25. Hermit Thrush

Elsewhere

26. Common Grackle

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird