Warmish first thing, about freezing. Calmish also: no big breeze a-blowing on the hill. And birds about from the get-go—voices mostly.
Until we got to the summit, where the Snow Bunting pair were still hanging on on the roof of Beech Nut. Yesterday afternoon’s warm temperatures had melted a bunch of ice and snow from the southern exposures, revealing plenty of formerly iced-up seeds. This brought a bunch of bluebirds out (along with a couple yellow-rumps, which it seems follow the bluebirds).
Finally, I spied a pair of flickers.
The trails were seriously icy, though—and Jack’s toenails simply could gain the kind of purchase my spiky grips did. He slipped down onto his tummy a few times, which made me feel bad.
But we emerged unscathed for the most part. And with another lovely memory.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:07 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Tufted Titmouse (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
3. American Goldfinch (v)
4. American Crow* (v)
5. Downy Woodpecker (v)
6. Brown Creeper (v)
7. Snow Bunting
8. Eastern Bluebird
9. Yellow-rumped Warbler
10. Common Raven
11. Northern Flicker
Elsewhere
12. Herring Gull
13. Mallard
14. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, brown creeper, common raven, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, herring gull, mallard, rock pigeon, snow bunting, tufted titmouse, yellow-rumped warbler
