I was prepared for a little rain this morning, but the early weather radar showed that most precipitation was sliding off toward the north. One approaching shower could possibly graze us—but I didn’t mind.
Turns out the shower did graze us, but not for about a half hour. Meantime, the birds were shy, the woods were dark, and the air was cool. Pretty lovely, actually. When the shower did come, it turned into one of the most luscious hikes I can remember. Protected by the thick canopy, yet present for the soothing sound of the rain… Hard to describe. Just wonderful.
And after the rain let up, birds emerged—oriole, woodcock, raven, first restart in a good while.
Was looking forward to sweet rain all week, as forecast, but it seems the forecast has changed. We shall see.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:37 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
2. Hermit Thrush
3. American Crow* (v)
4. Gray Catbird**
5. Eastern Towhee
6. Eastern Wood-pewee
7. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
8. Brown Creeper (v)
9. White-breasted Nuthatch
10. American Robin*
11. Cedar Waxwing
12. American Goldfinch (v)
13. Baltimore Oriole
14. Song Sparrow**
15. Northern Flicker (v)
16. House Finch
17. Mourning Dove*
18. Common Yellowthroat
19. Common Raven (v)
20. Black-and-white Warbler (v)
21. American Woodcock
22. Chestnut-sided Warbler
23. American Redstart
24. Black-throated Green Warbler
25. Tufted Titmouse (v)
26. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
27. Northern Cardinal
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American redstart, American robin, American woodcock, Baltimore oriole, black-and-white warbler, black-capped chickadee, black-throated green warbler, brown creeper, Cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler, common raven, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, gray catbird, hermit thrush, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, red-bellied woodpecker, red-eyed vireo, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
