Eastern Phoebe.
Long morning hike up a luscious, muddy Beech Hill trail. Ticks on the weed stems, flies here and there. Saw my first Mourning Cloak of the year. Also saw a turkey—and heard my first two Eastern Towhees of the year. And the distinctive whine of a Hermit Thrush.
Phoebe food.
Seventeen species, most so far this year. Proof that it’s April—and that number will rise.
Rain tonight. The smell of petrichor.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 10 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Herring Gull* (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. Northern Flicker (v)
4. Northern Cardinal** (v)
5. American Crow*
6. Fox Sparrow
7. Eastern Towhee† (v)
8. Wild Turkey
9. Song Sparrow**
10. Yellow-rumped Warbler
11. Ruby-crowned Kinglet* (v)
12. Eastern Phoebe**
13. American Robin* (v)
14. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
15. House Finch (v)
16. Hermit Thrush (v)
17. Tufted Titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
18. European Starling (v)
19. American Goldfinch (v)
20. Rock Pigeon
21. Mallard
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, European starling, fox sparrow, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mallard, northern cardinal, northern flicker, rock pigeon, ruby-crowned kinglet, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, wild turkey, yellow-rumped warbler
