16 February 2025

Archive for February, 2012

Leap Day

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
Birch, Beech Hill, Rockport, Maine, 29 February 2012.

Birch.

Leapt to work. Leapt upstairs* to grab some lunch. Leapt into the pickup to head to town. Leapt out again at Beech Hill—where the wind was fickle and the promise was for a glancing blow of snow tomorrow.

*But I nearly always take steps two at a time.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. American crow (voice)

Elsewhere

2. Mourning dove
3. House finch
4. Tufted titmouse
5. Black-capped chickadee
6. Herring gull
7. Rock pigeon

Variety

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
The barrens, Beech Hill, Rockport, Maine, 28 February 2012.

The barrens.

Might be hard to believe, what with the wind and chill, but spring is only about three weeks away. In fact, portents are everywhere: the lengthening photoperiod, the warmer feel of the sun as its arc inches higher, the singing titmouse out back. Saw a sharp-shinned hawk a couple days ago. Saw a red-tailed hawk today near Chickawaukie Lake, with its entourage of crows. Stopped at a light in traffic this morning, I heard the resounding song of a cardinal through the windows of my pickup.

Beech Nut, Beech Hill, Rockport, Maine, 28 February 2012.

Beech Nut.

At Beech Hill, a handful of robins scattered as we hopped out into the parking lot. Heard the faint peeps of foraging chickadees—and the sweet short notes of eastern bluebirds.

Earlier tonight, I spent a moment contemplating the planets lined up with the moon high in the southwest sky. Some night a month from now, I’ll hear first burbles and tweets of the American woodcock’s miraculous spring flight song.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m.,  I hiked the open trail.

1. Black-capped chickadee
2. American robin
3. Eastern bluebird (voice)

Elsewhere

4. Herring gull
5. House finch
6. American crow
7. Northern cardinal
8. Red-tailed hawk
9. Rock pigeon
10. Tufted titmouse

Little birder

Monday, February 27th, 2012
Somebody's up there, Beech Hill, Rockport, Maine, 27 February 2012.

Somebody's up there.

Jack and I met a little girl on the Beech Hill trail today, walking with her mother and littler sibling, who told me—spontaneously—that she’d seen birds sitting on the signs up there. So I told her that I walk up there every day looking for birds, and listed the three I’d seen or heard today.

Black-capped chickadee, Beech Hill, Rockport, Maine, 27 February 2012.

Black-capped chickadee.

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

1. Black-capped chickadee
2. American crow (voice)
3. White-breasted nuthatch (voice)

Elsewhere

4. House finch
5. American crow
6. Herring gull

 
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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