Mourning Cloak.
The weather was glorious—not to hot, not too cold. There was a breeze, but just enough to carry the extra heat of the sun away during a brisk hike. There were birds in the sky, and I could see them winging. And I could hear them singing. Or, in the case of the Blue Jays, hollering at each other. I even saw a raven flying low between some distant trees, and he was southwest of me, and it was afternoon, so I got a great look at the sheen of the light reflecting from its feathers.
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (female).
If not for a few minor annoyances to keep me grounded—how boring life would be without annoyances—and the fact that I got no great bird photos, this might’ve been a perfect kind of day.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
2. American Goldfinch**
3. Blue Jay (v)
4. American Robin* (v)
5. Eastern Towhee
6. Chipping Sparrow** (v)
7. American Crow*
8. Song Sparrow**
9. American Redstart (v)
10. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)
11. Common Yellowthroat**
12. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
13. Chestnut-sided Warbler
14. Cedar Waxwing**
15. Yellow Warbler
16. Savannah Sparrow
17. Mourning Dove*
18. Herring Gull*
19. Common Raven
20. House Finch (v)
21. Downy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
22. Osprey (v)
23. Double-crested Cormorant
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, chipping sparrow, common raven, common yellowthroat, double-crested cormorant, downy woodpecker, eastern towhee, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, osprey, red-eyed vireo, savannah sparrow, song sparrowa, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow warbler
