17 March 2026

Archive for December, 2015

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Bicycle weather

Friday, December 25th, 2015
Christmas tree, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 25 December 2015.

Christmas tree.

Sunny, warm, still, crazy Christmas Day. Had a little celebration with my dog, and then we went for a long hike at Beech Hill Preserve—all trails today.

Only one car in the parking lot when we arrived in late morning. The place was pretty full when we got done about an hour and a half later. Took that long because—what with the pleasantness of the day—we hiked all trails. Ten bird species, total. A lot of dogs and people. Not unexpected, though, I guess, considering the weather. It was all I could do to remind myself I had enough other obligations that I shouldn’t embark on a long bicycle ride.

If tomorrow is similar enough, I might go ahead and do it.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 10:45 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. White-breasted Nuthatch* (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee* (v)
3. American Goldfinch**
4. American Crow*
5. Yellow-rumped Warbler
6. Herring Gull*
7. Downy Woodpecker* (v)
8. Golden-crowned Kinglet (v)
9. Hairy Woodpecker
10. Tufted Titmouse (v)

Elsewhere

11. Blue Jay (v)
12. Mallard
13. Rock Pigeon
14. Mourning Dove

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

 

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Damn near tropical

Thursday, December 24th, 2015
American Crow, Near Mount Battie, Camden, Maine, 24 December 2015.

American Crow.

Fifty degrees (F) today—and beyond. Damp, gray, not very windy. Just thirty degrees warmer, and it’d seem tropical. This odd, warm trend confuses the wildlife, I think: chipmunks still running around, an abundance of food for birds usually having to contend with snow. To say nothing of human recreation, with skiers and ice fishermen dreaming of winters past.

Jack’s World, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 24 December 2015.

Jack’s World.

Me? I just do what I usually do—take my dog for a hike.

Few birds, few people at Beech Hill today when we arrived in mid-afternoon, although a little family with a couple dogs did meet us coming up as we made our way back down. Muddy, foggy, breezy. No winter birds to speak of yet. No winter finches, anyway. No shrike or Snowy Owl.

Tomorrow—Christmas Day—I think we’ll head up in the morning, see what’s what.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Black-capped Chickadee* (v)
2. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
3. American Crow* (v)

Elsewhere

4. Downy Woodpecker
5. Blue Jay (v)
6. American Goldfinch
7. Brown Creeper (v)
8. Herring Gull

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

 

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Curious chickadee

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2015
Black-capped Chickadee, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 23 December 2015.

Black-capped Chickadee.

Foggier’n hell today. Which is oddly comforting—and not just because that means it’s still scary warm for late-December. Or not so scary. Just odd. Unusual. Therefore more interesting than typical weather. And interesting is nearly always a good thing, no? (Trying not to think of that Chinese curse.)

Late, muddy hike. A good one. Four bird species (half of them seen).

Including a curious chickadee.

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

1. Black-capped Chickadee
2. Eastern Bluebird (v)
3. Yellow-rumped Warbler
4. American Tree Sparrow (v)

Elsewhere

5. Tufted Titmouse (v)
6. American Crow

v = Voice only

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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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