Ovenbird.

Another sunny, cool early morning hike all over Beech Hill today. One difference: things were dewy this early a.m.—which might or might not have had to do with the appearance of a few first-of-year species for a change.

Chipping sparrow.

First, just after Jack and I turned the first curve of the wooded trail, I heard the voice of an ovenbird. First ovenbird of the season for me. And, in fact, we tracked it down, and I got a photo and a video. It was nice to hear the familiar loud voice of the little bird, although I’m liable to get just a little tired of it as we move into summer. (Or maybe not—after all, it’s my cell phone ring tone.)

As I was taking a movie of the ovenbird, I heard the faint notes of a rose-breasted grosbeak coming from high in the trees where they’ve been hanging out every year for the past three or four or five. Another first-of-year bird. About half-way up, I heard (then saw) my first purple finch.

Up a the summit fields, at the little turn by the split-rail fence, I heard the song (and mew!) of a catbird. Another FOY species. Up near Beech Nut, I spied two barn swallows flying over.

Also happened to see a plump broad-winged hawk perched low in the little trees at the edge of the southern field, being yelled at by a robin. As we got back up near the summit, I spotted two wild turkeys in the trail ahead of us. (Too bad I couldn’t get a photo, because the sun was shining through their waddles, which glowed electric red.)

Broad-winged hawk.

My knee started bothering me, though. Not sure why—although I have been hiking up and down a hill for at least two hours every morning for a week or more. Decided to head out on my bicycle anyway, and the trip turned out to be easy and pain free. Plus, down in Clam Cove I heard m first laughing gulls of the year.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Eastern towhee**
2. Black-capped chickadee*
3. American goldfinch (v)
4. Blue jay
5. Black-throated green warbler (v)
6. American robin*
7. Common raven (v)
8. Hairy woodpecker (v)
9. Blue-headed vireo (v)
10. Ovenbird†
11. Tufted titmouse** (v)
12. American crow*
13. Black-and-white warbler
14. White-breasted nuthatch (v)
15. Rose-breasted grosbeak† (v)
16. Yellow-rumped warbler
17. Hermit thrush
18. Purple finch†
19. Northern cardinal** (v)
20. Gray catbird (v)
21. Song sparrow*
22. Eastern phoebe
23. Barn swallow†
24. Savannah sparrow
25. White-throated sparrow (v)
26. Chipping sparrow
27. Mallard
28. Mourning dove* (v)
29. Herring gull*
30. Field sparrow (v)
31. Broad-winged hawk
32. Wild turkey
33. Nashville warbler (v)

Elsewhere

35. House finch (v)
36. European starling
37. House sparrow (v)
38. Laughing gull† (v)

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