photograph and text by Brian Willson

I heard the rain while awakening, so I went back to sleep and didn’t rise until the decadent hour of 7:30 a.m. And I didn’t get out into the drizzle and rain and fog until late this afternoon. With Jack. My dog.

Quite a few birds, despite the less-than-ideal hour and weather conditions. I certainly did not expect any decent bird photos—but somehow I managed an OK shot of a yellowthroat.

Twenty species in all. (And five more elsewhere.)

Truly, when you think about it, every new day is a miracle.

Beech Hill List

Beginning at 4 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Yellow Warbler** (v)
2. Common Yellowthroat**
3. Chestnut-sided Warbler** (v)
4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
5. Northern Cardinal**
6. American Redstart** (v)
7. American Robin** (v)
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Gray Catbird** (v)
10. Alder Flycatcher
11. Song Sparrow**
12. Mourning Dove
13. Savannah Sparrow
14. White-throated Sparrow (v)
15. Eastern Towhee (v)
16. American Goldfinch (v)
17. House Finch (v)
18. Eastern Phoebe**
19. Chipping Sparrow** (v)
20. Cedar Waxwing (v)

Elsewhere

21. American Crow
22. Herring Gull
23. House Sparrow
24. European Starling
25. Double-crested Cormorant

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere