Nippy out. Some sun early, but overcast and breezy late. Snow in the forecast for tonight.

But today, this afternoon, in a nice stroke of fortune, I got to see my first kestrel of the year. (I also saw a small falcon fly overhead from south to north, carrying something in its talons. Too far away to ID. Merlin? Peregrine?)

And tonight—before the snow—heard my first woodcock.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Song Sparrow
2. American Crow* (v)
3. Eastern Phoebe
4. American Kestrel
5. Northern Harrier
6. Black-capped Chickadee*

Elsewhere

7. American Robin
8. Herring Gull
9. House Finch (v)
10. Northern Cardinal (v)
11. American Woodcock (flight song)†

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
†First-of-year bird

 

Tags: American crow, American kestrel, American robin, American woodcock, black-capped chickadee, eastern phoebe, herring gull, house finch, northern cardinal, northern harrier, song sparrow

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 at 11:02 pm and is filed under Lists, Observations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.