Another gray, chilly, wet, muddy hike with dog. More species than yesterday (although no first-of-year birds), and more greening things and other signs of impending spring. For instance, Trout Lily buds are just waiting for a glimpse of sunshine to quickly blossom.
I wonder what the trigger is? Likely a combination of time of year, weather conditions, and chance. Whatever the case, this trigger is about to get pulled—I can just tell.
Tomorrow should be drier, with a little flash of sun.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6:41 a.m. real time (7:41 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Blue-headed Vireo (v)
2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
3. Northern Cardinal**
4. Eastern Towhee
5. Chipping Sparrow
6. Downy Woodpecker (v)
7. Purple Finch (v)
8. Black-capped Chickadee**
9. American Robin (v)
10. Tufted Titmouse
11. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
12. American Goldfinch
13. American Crow*
14. Field Sparrow (v)
15. Song Sparrow**
16. Savannah Sparrow (v)
17. Gray Catbird (v)
18. Eastern Phoebe
19. Winter Wren (v)
20. Herring Gull*
21. Pileated Woodpecker (drumming)
22. Brown Creeper
23. Eastern Bluebird
24. Osprey
Elsewhere
25. Mourning Dove
26. Turkey Vulture
27. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue-headed vireo, brown creeper, chipping sparrow, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, field sparrow, gray catbird, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, osprey, pileated woodpecker, purple finch, red-breasted nuthatch, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, white-breasted nuthatch, winter wren
