8 June 2023

Cool Overcast

June 6th, 2023
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 06 June 2023.
Chestnut-sided Warbler.

I do love an overcast day. I love a sunny day, too, of course—but a cool overcast like this morning’s makes for a luscious change-of-pace. Just the feeling of a protective roof over your head, preventing you from astral projection into the endlessness of space. Or something like that.

Anyway, dog and I had a real nice hike, with some pretty cool birds, to boot. Most notably, we flushed two American Woodcocks, and the cry of a Blue Jay alerted me to a Broad-winged Hawk flyby. Even got a teeny little glimpse of a singing male Scarlet Tanager way up in the leafy green canopy.

Was supposed to be raining during our usual hike time, but no—and apparently won’t be tomorrow either. But the forecast calls for another sweetly cloudy morn.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:30 a.m. sun time (8:30 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
2. Eastern Phoebe
3. Song Sparrow**
4. American Redstart** (v)
5. Ovenbird**
6. Black-and-white Warbler
7. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
8. Chestnut-sided Warbler**
9. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v)
10. Blue Jay
11. Eastern Towhee**
12. Veery (v)
13. Scarlet Tanager
14. Broad-winged Hawk
15. Gray Catbird**
16. American Woodcock
17. Common Yellowthroat (v)
18. Alder Flycatcher (v)
19. Tufted Titmouse (v)
20. Turkey Vulture
21. Field Sparrow
22. Yellow Warbler (v)
23. Eastern Bluebird
24. American Crow*
25. American Goldfinch** (v)
26. Northern Cardinal* (v)
27. Black-capped Chickadee
28. Hermit Thrush (v)

Elsewhere

29. Mallard
30. Herring Gull

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

Lovely Overcast

June 5th, 2023
Eastern Bluebird, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 05 June 2023.
Eastern Bluebird.

Went to bed last night thinking dog and I would have to hike in sprinkles for the second straight day, but no. A simple, misty overcast greeted us when we arrived at the trailhead—a couple hours earlier than yesterday. And nearly twice as many bird species showed up.

Notable was a singing Veery (seen), two singing Scarlet Tanagers (unseen), a random flicker (unseen), and confirmation that the juvie Hairy Woodpeckers have left their nest hole.

Truly a lovely overcast, this one. Tomorrow’s supposed be showery.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:30 a.m. sun time (8:30 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. American Goldfinch
2. Eastern Phoebe*
3. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
4. American Redstart** (v)
5. Black-and-white Warbler (v)
6. Tufted Titmouse (v)
7. Song Sparrow*
8. Ovenbird** (v)
9. Chestnut-sided Warbler
10. Common Yellowthroat (v)
11. Alder Flycatcher (v)
12. Eastern Towhee
13. Red-winged Blackbird (v)
14. Blue Jay (v)
15. Yellow Warbler (v)
16. Herring Gull*
17. American Crow*
18. Eastern Bluebird
19. Gray Catbird**
20. Hermit Thrush (v)
21. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
22. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
23. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
24. Scarlet Tanager (v)
25. Veery
26. Common Raven (v)
27. Field Sparrow
28. Chipping Sparrow
29. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
30. Northern Flicker (v)
31. Brown-headed Cowbird
32. Mourning Dove** (v)

Elsewhere

33. Mallard
34. American Robin (v)

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

Showery

June 4th, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 04 June 2023.
Common Yellowthroat in the rain.

Was supposed to rain today, and it did. Waited a couple three hours until a little letup occurred, then dog and I hit the main trail. As expected, we got a little wet.

Also as expected, I ended up with few birds on my list. This rainy stretch comes from a sort of spring mini–nor’easter swirling out over the bay, and the wind was whipping through the trees. Many species were quiet—didn’t hear a single Red-eyed Vireo!—and I decided not to hike far into the woods.

But it felt good to get out there in the nippy (mid-40s (F)), moist, breezy air. I like a change of pace—even if the change is gonna last a while….

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 9:43 a.m. sun time (10:43 DST), I hiked the main trail, plus.

1. Herring Gull*
2. Eastern Phoebe
3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
4. Ovenbird (v)
5. American Redstart* (v)
6. Black-and-white Warbler (v)
7. Mourning Dove** (v)
8. American Goldfinch (v)
9. Song Sparrow
10. Black-capped Chickadee
11. Eastern Towhee
12. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v)
13. Common Yellowthroat
14. Purple Finch (v)
15. American Robin (v)
16. Yellow Warbler (v)
17. Gray Catbird** (v)

Elsewhere

18. Mallard
19. American Crow

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

 
Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson



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