The day dawned mostly cloudy, or rather foggy below and hazy above, with a little bit of sunlight filtering through. Chilly, but with the promise of warming. Dog and I slept a little late—convenient for the coming switch to Standard Time—so arrived a bit late to the hill, main trail.
Within a hundred yards, I had a dozen species on my list. Birds everywhere during that first roadside stretch—including a pair of kinglet species. The golden-crowned actually posed for a pic.
Happened to rendezvous with a couple of our friends, and we proceeded up the slope with company and good conversation—and bluebirds, and a White-crowned Sparrow. Eventually headed down the wooded trail alone, just the two of us, as we’re accustomed to doing. Got a Hairy Woodpecker and a titmouse down there.
If I were living in the movie Groundhog Day, I wouldn’t mind reliving this morning a time or two. And tomorrow comes sweet, sweet rain.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:20 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow*
2. Blue Jay**
3. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
4. Yellow-rumped Warbler
5. Black-capped Chickadee**
6. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
7. Red-breasted Nuthatch
8. Eastern Bluebird
9. American Robin
10. American Goldfinch
11. Golden-crowned Kinglet
12. Downy Woodpecker
13. Song Sparrow
14. White-throated Sparrow (v)
15. Purple Finch
16. Eastern Towhee (v)
17. White-crowned Sparrow
18. Savannah Sparrow
19. Northern Flicker
20. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
21. Tufted Titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
22. Northern Cardinal (v)
23. Hermit Thrush
Mammals
American Red Squirrel
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American red squirrel, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, eastern towhee, golden-crowned kinglet, hairy woodpecker, hermit thrush, northern cardinal, northern flicker, purple finch, red-breasted nuthatch, ruby-crowned kinglet, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, white-crowned sparrow, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
