9 October 2024

Archive for September, 2015

When it rains…

Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
Soggy landscape, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 30 September 2015.

Soggy landscape.

The prognosticators were right: we got a little rain. Only four or five inches where I am, but more than ten inches not very many miles up Route 1 from here. Streets in Belfast and Portland flooded photogenically. Roads washed out all over the place. After several weeks of overly dry, warm conditions, we made up for it in one day.

Jack and I got to Beech Hill late, just about the time it let up. The trail had some new erosion. Oddly, I didn’t see any of the five birds on my hill list, but I saw all five of those from elsewhere.

Hurricane a-comin’. Maybe. We’ll see.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
2. Eastern Phoebe (v)
3. Northern Flicker (v)
4. Common Raven (v)
5. Yellow-rumped Warbler (v)

Elsewhere

6. American Crow
7. Mallard
8. Red-winged Blackbird
9. Blue Jay
10. Herring Gull

v = Voice only

 

 

Rain a-comin’

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015
Milkweed pods, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 29 September 2015.

Milkweed pods.

Desk work on this overcast day, then a foggy Beech Hill hike with Jack. A few birds—including secretive juncos and an antic kinglet—along with a tiny snake. Also several other hikers a few other dogs.

Tiny Red-bellied Snake, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 29 September 2015.

Tiny Red-bellied Snake.

Tomorrow we’re promised a gullywasher.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Yellow-rumped Warbler
2. Eastern Towhee
3. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
4. Northern Flicker (v)
5. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)

Elsewhere

6. American Crow
7. White-breasted Nuthatch
8. Herring Gull

v = Voice only
**Voice only elsewhere

Road trip

Monday, September 28th, 2015
American Redstart, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 28 September 2015.

American Redstart.

Took my daughter down to the Portland Jetport this afternoon, my first trip there for quite a few years. (Only made one wrong turn.) As I write this, she’s still winging her way back to L.A. Sure was great to see her—and introduce her to Monhegan. Memorable times.

Saw a bunch of Turkey Vultures on our sunny trip south and back. Jack went, too, so on our return in late afternoon, we took a hike to get the blood moving. Saw a Turkey Vulture up there, too. Along with two ravens. Two warbler species—one of which eluded a spectacularly teed-up photo opportunity.

Coming down the hill, we ran into many people and dogs hiking up. They were there for the moonrise.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Yellow-rumped Warbler*
2. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)
3. American Redstart
4. Common Raven
5. Turkey Vulture*
6. Blue Jay*

Elsewhere

7. Herring Gull
8. American Crow
9. Cedar Waxwing (v)
10. Mourning Dove
11. Rock Pigeon
12. Osprey

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

 

 
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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