Eastern Phoebe marital bed.
Up and out in a hurry this morning. Couldn’t wait to see what Beech Hill might’ve had in store. Had a feeling it might be a new species or two.
Golden-crowned Kinglet.
Well, I was wrong—it was a big, big day. Six first-of-year species, two mating pairs, a low flying eagle, first bluebirds on the new bluebird boxes, a porcupine… I didn’t see it coming. Not complaining, though.
In fact, Jack and I were the only hikers on the hill today for the nearly two hours we were up there. Calm (for a change), bright, good visibility. Not many great photos—I desperately need a new camera—but sufficiant documentation. [Aside: again I somehow accidentally deleted half my GoPro footage while importing, which was frustrating. Not sure how that’s happening.]
Gray ghost (Northern Harrier).
Began at the wooded trailhead for a change. A little remnant frost on the ground at 7:15 a.m. Had ten species before we’d gone a hundred yards, and soon after, my first booming grouse of the year. Singing yellow-rumps, a couple of singing Palm Warblers, a couple of singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets. (Also Golden-crowned Kinglets.) At the summit, a vee of cormorants flew over. Then I spotted a harrier—and scrambling to get a video (no dice), I noticed what seemed to be a pair of them, both males.
Hermit Thrush.
Heard singing bluebirds on the open side, and there sat a male on one of the new bird boxes. In fact, I saw bluebird pairs checking out three of the six new boxes. Heard the drumming of the resident Pileated Woodpecker on his utility pole—and then spotted the bird hammering away. Also saw him, after some kind of antic serenade, getting it on with a female nearby. (Blurry video, alas.)
Heard the first towhee of the year. A calling Red-bellied Woodpecker flew through the preserve. Jack spotted a slow-moving porcupine.
And back at our starting point, I surprised a mating pair of phoebes. (They do it in the leaves.)
Red-bellied Woodpecker.
This beautiful night, Jupiter is sidling up to the moon up there, looks like.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:15 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Northern Cardinal** (v)
2. Eastern Phoebe*§
3. White-breasted Nuthatch*
4. American Goldfinch*
5. Tufted Titmouse**
6. American Robin (v)
7. Downy Woodpecker
8. Yellow-rumped Warbler
9. American Crow*
10. Wild Turkey† (v)
11. Black-capped Chickadee*
12. Blue Jay** (v)
13. Herring Gull*
14. Ruffed Grouse (booming)
15. Mourning Dove**
16. Hairy Woodpecker
17. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
18. Common Raven (v)
19. Golden-crowned Kinglet
20. Osprey (v)
21. Purple Finch† (v)
22. Song Sparrow*
23. Ruby-crowned Kinglet† (v)
24. Palm Warbler†
25. Double-crested Cormorant
26. Northern Harrier
27. Eastern Towhee† (v)
28. Northern Flicker
29. Eastern Bluebird
30. Pileated Woodpecker§
31. Bald Eagle
32. Canada Goose (v)
33. Red-bellied Woodpecker*
34. Hermit Thrush†
Elsewhere
35. Dark-eyed Junco
36. House Sparrow
37. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year species
§Mating pairs
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, bald eagle, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown-headed cowbird, Canada goose, common raven, dark-eyed junco, double-crested cormorant, downy woodpecker, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, golden-crowned kinglet, hairy woodpecker, hermit thrush, herring gull, house sparrow, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, northern harrier, osprey, palm warbler, pileated woodpecker, purple finch, red-bellied woodpecker, rock pigeon, ruby-crowned kinglet, ruffed grouse, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, wild turkey, yellow-rumped warbler
