5:23 a.m. 65 degrees, wind SSE 3 mph. Clean, clear sunrise; low White River fog slowly merges with Connecticut River fog ... a watershed mist, cotton white and just as fluffy. Nineteen species, including five warblers ( common yellowthroat, yellow, myrtle, chestnut-sided, and black-throated green). MIA: common raven, both nuthatches.
The biggest bird: American crow
The smallest bird: ruby-throated hummingbird
The most voluble bird: 1) red-eyed vireo (in denial that it's mid-July); 2) American goldfinch
Flower-pot roosting bird: male dark-eyed junco
Onset: goldenrods (several species)
Peaking: Queen Anne's lace
Outset: oxeye daisy
There was no sign of the barred owl this morning, though he stopped by Monday evening at twilight, perching on the hanging cherry limb, peering into the raspberry patch. I stayed long enough to park the car and watch. Then, effortlessly, like smoke, he drifted, big-bodied and silent, into the woods.
Such a wonderful Substack. Short, informative, and well written. Thank you!