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Archive for March, 2014
Thursday, March 13th, 2014
 Icy trail. Rained like crazy last night, then began to blow. Occasionally I’d awaken to hear strong gusts rattling the windows and the rushing sound up the hill out back and the gigantic oak tree leaning over my bedroom would come to mind. At some point I was aware of sleet scattering against the siding. By sunup, the temperature had (as promised) plummeted to about 10 degrees (F). Still windy, though, and now snowing a little.
 Black-capped chickadee. About midday, I thought Jack and I might as well get it over with. We marched up Beech Hill and back, wind helping us up and hindering our return trip. When wind that cold blows against the front of me, I get a cold-headache around where the brim of my hat meets my forehead. We met no other people (or dogs). Heard only a chickadee in the wind somewhere.
But by late in the day, the snow had let up and the sun had actually emerged, and I decided to take another quick hike, so we did it again.
Still a little windy, not as cold. Fact is, it began to snow a little while we were up there. The trail was icy in places and had small drifts in others. Saw a few chickadees this time—the only bird. Back at the parking lot, we met a young couple just arriving.
En route back home, I saw a mourning dove.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 12 p.m. and again at 4:45 p.m, I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-Capped Chickadee** (v)
Elsewhere
2. American Crow
3. Herring Gull
4. Mourning Dove
v = Voice only
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, herring gull, mourning dove
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Wednesday, March 12th, 2014
 Northern Harrier. Storm’s a comin’. Well, actually, as I write this, it’s her—a big, cold rainstorm here on the coast (although snow is piling up inland). But this morning, only a little rain was falling, and a bit of a breeze was blowing, when at midday Jack and I took a quick Beech Hill hike.
 Black-capped chickadee. Or at least the plan was for it to be quick, but so many birds showed up that it slowed us down a bit. A half dozen at the parking lot—chickadee, titmouse, brown creeper, downy woodpecker, mourning dove, crow—and a pair of mallards flying fast overhead. The track was muddy, with ice on the fringes. At the summit, I scanned the fields and spotted what looked like a good-sized bird sitting there maybe a couple hundred yards away. Turned out to be a harrier. Stayed and watched it until it took off and flew away to the north.
Back at the parking lot again, I saw both downy and hair woodpeckers, a nuthatch, and a little handful of goldfinches. Quite an active day.
Blowing like crazy out there just now.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 12:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-Capped Chickadee**
2. Brown Creeper
3. Tufted Titmouse
4. Downy Woodpecker
5. American Crow*
6. Mourning Dove (v)
7. Mallard
8. Northern Harrier
9. White-Breasted Nuthatch
10. American Goldfinch
11. Hairy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
12. House Sparrow (v)
13. Northern Cardinal (v)
14. House Finch (v)
15. Herring Gull
16. Ring-Billed Gull
17. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, brown creeper, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern harrier, ring-billed gull, rock pigeon, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
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Tuesday, March 11th, 2014
 Bald Eagle. Busy day, desk day. Had a break for lunch with a friend, which was nice. And eventually, Jack and I took a quick hike up the thawy, slippery Beech Hill trail. Heard chickadees and crows at first. Then I spied—against the slate-gray overcast sky—a solitary shrike atop the lone oak, a tree they love to hang out in, I’ve noticed. We ascended slowly, so I could try some photos, but suddenly it flew.
 Northern shrike. And just as suddenly a huge bird rose from behind the rise: an adult eagle, soaring on long wings down toward the southwest. Don’t know if the eagle is the reason the tiny (by comparison) shrike took off, but I probably would have.
Elsewhere, the calls of chickadees, the spring songs of titmice, the threat of a release, a true thaw—except, of course, we’ve still got a little snow to contend with, this being the 44th parallel.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-Capped Chickadee**
2. American Crow*
3. Northern Shrike
4. Bald Eagle
5. Tufted Titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
6. Herring Gull
7. Mourning Dove
8. Rock Dove
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
 American crow.
Tags: American crow, bald eagle, black-capped chickadee, herring gull, mourning dove, northern shrike, rock dove, tufted titmouse
Posted in Lists, Observations | No Comments »
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| 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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