Monarch on milkweed, Beech Hill Preserve.
I saw a monarch butterfly today. It’s the first monarch I’ve seen in two years. It was sipping on a milkweed blossom at the summit of Beech Hill. I was surprised at how thrilled I was to see it. Monarch’s are in trouble, of course, from weed-killing chemicals that have diminished the prevalence of milkweed in North America. Sucks. Monarch’s are such amazing creatures.
I also came upon a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drilling the trunk of a tree in that neat, clean, geometric sapsucker pattern. Got a little video.
Also worked, took a break at midday to attend a special E. B. White day at Owl and Turtle Books in Camden, rode fourteen miles on my bicicle, and played with my dog.
Tomorrow should be a good day also. That’s my educated guess, at least.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American Goldfinch (v)
2. American Robin**
3. Eastern Towhee
4. Gray Catbird*
5. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
6. Cedar Waxwing**
7. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
8. Downy Woodpecker (v)
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v)
11. American Redstart
12. Common Yellowthroat (v)
13. Song Sparrow**
14. Yellow Warbler**
15. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
16. Field Sparrow (v)
17. Savannah Sparrow
18. Herring Gull*
19. Ovenbird (v)
20. Northern Flicker (v)
21. Common Raven (v)
Elsewhere
22. American Crow
23. Laughing Gull
24. Rock Pigeon
25. Red-winged Blackbird
26. Osprey (v)
27. Mourning Dove
28. Northern Cardinal (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, black-capped chickadee, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, common raven, common yellowthroat, downy woodpecker, eastern towhee, field sparrow, gray catbird, herring gull, laughing gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, osprey, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, red-winged blackbird, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, white-breasted nuthatch, yellow warbler, yellow-bellied sapsucker
