Today I traveled with Captain Jack (who, ironically, hates boats) from Port Clyde, Maine, to Monhegan Island for a few days of birding. Since we’ll be busy wandering and visiting, I’ll just be posting a daily list and a photo or two until our return. It’s been I believe five years, and I missed this place. (Woo-hoo!)
Port Clyde to Monhegan List
1. Herring Gull 2. Broad-winged Hawk 3. Double-crested Cormorant 4. Belted Kingfisher 5. Common Loon 6. Northern Flicker 7. Blue Jay 8. Mallard 9. Red-eyed Vireo 10. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 11. Golden-crowned Kinglet 12. White-throated Sparrow 13. Dark-eyed Junco 14. Yellow Warbler 15. Gray Catbird 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch 17. Ring-necked Pheasant 18. Great Cormorant 19. Merlin 20. Peregrine Falcon 21. Cape May Warbler 22. Yellow-rumped Warbler 23. Blackpoll Warbler 24. Black-throated Green Warbler 25. Dickcissel 26. Song Sparrow 27. American Goldfinch 28. American Robin 29. Mourning Dove 30. Sharp-shinned Hawk
This day was sunny and breeezy—a stout wind whipping our way from the west-northwest. I wasn’t sure what to expect, bird-wise (as is usually the case), but right away, I saw a White-crowned Sparrow. I only see that species on the hill during migration, so that was fun.
A Song Sparrow joined the white-crowned after a little while.
Down on the wooded trails, ticks are still lurking. Few bird species—but I did hear a vireo and a flicker. (The wind in the canopy dampened the voices of birds.)
Returning down the main trail, we encountered a handsome White-throated Sparrow. Nice. And tomorrow we venture to Monhegan Island. In high seas, apparently, thanks to a hurricane (thankfully far) offshore.
Will keep you posted.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:29 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* 2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 3. White-crowned Sparrow 4. Common Yellowthroat (v) 5. Song Sparrow 6. Yellow-rumped Warbler 7. Blue Jay 8. Eastern Towhee (v) 9. Northern Flicker (v) 10. Sharp-shinned Hawk 11. American Goldfinch 12. Black-capped Chickadee 13. White-throated Sparrow 14. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
Elsewhere
15. Northern Cardinal 16. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
American Red Squirrel Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
As forecast, it rained. But as light came into the sky, the rain was sort of a wind-whipped misting, so dog and I high-tailed it to the main trailhead.
The misting turned to showers as, with thunder rumbling to the west, we quickly ascended. Few birds were apparent—heard three species and saw three others—and just as quickly we descended. But as we exited the parking lot, I spied a pair of wild turkeys across the road. Only bird photo I got today.
But thank you, autumn, for the sweet liquid that came from the sky all day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:24 a.m., I hiked the main trail.
1. American Crow** (v) 2. Northern Cardinal (v) 3. Song Sparrow 4. Common Yellowthroat 5. Northern Flicker 6. Blue Jay (v) 7. Wild Turkey
Elsewhere
8. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
