Song Sparrow.
We started pretty early, Jack and I, arriving at Beech Hill for our Easter Sunday hike at about 7:30 a.m. The hill was chilly, quiet, conducive to a slow stalk up through the woods, on the lookout for spring birds.
Hermit Thrush.
And I managed to hear and/or see a bunch of ’em. In fact, I had a dozen species on my list by the time we rounded the trail’s first turn. And I doubled that by the time we reached the summit—thanks to a first-of-year veery, a distant red-bellied woodpecker, overflying cowbird and killdeer, a booming ruffed grouse, and more.
Nearing the summit we ran into an early hiking friend, chatted briefly. Then I saw a little clutch of yellow-rumped warblers and a singing ruby-crowned kinglet. Up at the rocky outcrop, we met our friend Ed and his dog, Chupe, whom we hadn’t seen since last year, and ended up chatting for quite a while. On up to the summit, where we met a fellow on a bicycle. I advised him that bikes were not allowed on the hill, and he introduced himself, and he turned out to be somebody I knew from going on thirty years ago.
We ended up talking for at least fifteen minutes, maybe a half-hour.
Then Jack and I introduced ourselves to a couple who had just arrived at the summit, and I chatted with those folks for a good time. On down to the parking lot and back up again, where we ran into our friends from the village who walk from there. Chatted for a while.
By the time we got back down through the woods (less muddy today) and arrived at the truck, three hours and fifteen minutes had passed.
Day moon.
Fun to interact with people for a change—while of course still keeping an eye out for wild birds.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. American Robin*
3. Eastern Phoebe
4. Northern Cardinal** (v)
5. American Goldfinch (v)
6. Hermit Thrush
7. Herring Gull*
8. American Crow*
9. House Finch** (v)
10. Mourning Dove* (v)
11. Northern Flicker (v)
12. Ruffed Grouse (booming)
13. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
14. Killdeer
15. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
16. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
17. Veery†
18. Eastern Towhee
19. Song Sparrow**
20. Blue jay
21. American Kestrel
22. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
23. Yellow-rumped Warbler
24. Tree Swallow (v)
25. Downy Woodpecker (v)
26. Mallard*
Elsewhere
27. House Sparrow (v)
28. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American kestrel, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown-headed cowbird, downy woodpecker, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, killdeer, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, pileated woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, rock pigeon, ruby-crowned kinglet, ruffed grouse, song sparrow, tree swallow, veery, yellow-rumped warbler
