White-crowned Sparrow.
The spring chill continues. This morning began with a bright sun but pretty frigid air for May—in the 40s (F) first thing. Also a little breeze. And soon an overcast had moved in. For much of my hike up Beech Hill with dog I kept my hands in the front pocket of my hoodie. Plus, the conditions weren’t ideal for black flies or other insects, so the birds weren’t going nuts as they had been the past two days.
Gray Catbird.
Still, I saw and heard quite a few. Plenty of warblers, plenty of sparrows, three species of thrush, another Least Flycatcher—and a (seemingly) curious white-tail. Also, the White-crowned Sparrow I saw yesterday on the porch wall at Beech Nut was sitting in the same place this morning. (At least I assume it’s the same bird.)
We arrived down at the Beech Hill Road parking lot just as a car pulled up. It happened to be our friend Barb, who accompanied us back up to the summit. Flitting little Chestnut-sided Warblers, Northern Parulas, and a Downy Woodpecker lined the wood edge coming up the trail, and towhees and catbirds sang from low snags. No raptors today, nor ground fowl, but more species than I expected when I felt the nip in the air.
Then again, we are in the middle of spring migration.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v)
2. Ovenbird**
3. Chestnut-sided Warbler
4. Blue-headed Vireo (v)
5. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
6. Common Yellowthroat**
7. Black-capped Chickadee**
8. Herring Gull*
9. Black-and-white Warbler**
10. Eastern Phoebe
11. Eastern Towhee**
12. Northern Cardinal* (v)
14. American Crow*
14. Northern Parula
15. Veery
16. Gray Catbird**
17. Nashville Warbler (v)
18. American Goldfinch**
19. Hermit Thrush
20. American Robin*
21. Mourning Dove
22. Yellow-rumped Warbler
23. Brown-headed Cowbird
24. Song Sparrow**
25. White-throated Sparrow
26. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
27. Savannah Sparrow
28. Blue Jay** (v)
29. Chipping Sparrow (v)
30. Downy Woodpecker
31. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming)
32. Least Flycatcher
33. Field Sparrow (v)
34. House Finch (v)
Elsewhere
35. House Sparrow (v)
36. Osprey
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Hermit Thrush.
