White-throated Sparrows arrived en masse this morning. First sightings on the hill this year (several), and a few at home. Other species beginning to pass through also—Ovenbird, Blue-headed Vireo—and new migrants galore.
The day began fairly warm and ended up in the mid-70s (F). The air smelled pure and clean and fresh.
Lots of insects (good news for warblers). No deer ticks yet, either. Lovely.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 5:40 a.m. real time (6:40 DST), I hiked all trails.
The weather hasn’t been friendly for spring migration—winds from the north and northwest, rain and chill unconducive to flies and insects, etc. But today the sun emerged for the first time in a good while, and a few birds managed to begin moving through our hiking patch, dog and me.
Notable on this sunny morn was a first-of-year Ovenbird (ID’d only after I’d listened to my GoPro footage) and first-blooming Trout Lilies.
The winds won’t be overly friendly for the next few (several?) days, but it won’t be long before a rush of new migrants arrive. I’ll be leading a bird walk at Beech Hill in a few days, and my hope is things will be hoppin’ by then. We shall see.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:28 a.m. real time (7:28 DST), I hiked all trails.
Another gray, chilly, wet, muddy hike with dog. More species than yesterday (although no first-of-year birds), and more greening things and other signs of impending spring. For instance, Trout Lily buds are just waiting for a glimpse of sunshine to quickly blossom.
I wonder what the trigger is? Likely a combination of time of year, weather conditions, and chance. Whatever the case, this trigger is about to get pulled—I can just tell.
Tomorrow should be drier, with a little flash of sun.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:41 a.m. real time (7:41 DST), I hiked all trails.
