16 February 2025

Archive for August, 2023

Cool Morning

Thursday, August 31st, 2023
Glimpse of Pileated Woodpecker, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 31 August 2023.
Glimpse of Pileated Woodpecker.

My hike with dog commenced on this cool morning—“cool” in both senses of the word—with a stout breeze and near-cloudless skies. Not as many species as yesterday, but an interesting assortment. Many tits, a juvie thrush, and a photographic glimpse of a Pileated Woodpecker.

Tomorrow’s supposed to be a similar day, weather wise.

Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:23 a.m. EST (8:23 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Tufted Titmouse
2. Black-capped Chickadee
3. American Goldfinch
4. Eastern Wood-pewee
5. White-breasted Nuthatch
6. Blue Jay
7. American Crow
8. Downy Woodpecker
9. Pileated Woodpecker
10. Common Yellowthroat
11. Song Sparrow
12. Cedar Waxwing
13. Turkey Vulture
14. Gray Catbird
15. Eastern Towhee
16. Hermit Thrush

Elsewhere

17. Northern Cardinal (v)
18. Mourning Dove
19. Herring Gull
20. Rock Pigeon

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

Fun in the Rain

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023
Red-eyed Vireo juvies, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 30 August 2023.
Red-eyed Vireo juvies.

Was supposed to be rainy this morning, but it was only overcast, to start. Despite the wetness, dog and I encountered more bird species than the past couple-three hikes. Quiet though it was, I saw but a small percentage of ’em; the rest I heard. Noteworthy was the voice of a Great Crested Flycatcher— and the same Pileated Woodpecker I heard yesterday when we arrived.

Later, in a light rain, we came upon a little family of vireos flitting about in the canopy, an adult scrambling to feed a few rather demanding young ’uns. Even got a half-way decent photo, as proof.

Tomorrow’s supposed to be sunny, breezy, and cool.

Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:06 a.m. EST (8:06 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
3. Gray Catbird
4. Eastern Towhee
5. Mourning Dove* (v)
6. Great Crested Flycatcher (v)
7. Blue Jay (v)
8. Song Sparrow
9. American Goldfinch (v)
10. Cedar Waxwing (v)
11. Black-capped Chickadee
12. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
13. American Crow* (v)
14. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
15. Red-eyed Vireo
16. Common Yellowthroat
17. Eastern Bluebird
18. Downy Woodpecker (v)
19. Herring Gull (v)

Elsewhere

20. Northern Cardinal (v)

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

Woodland Hawk

Tuesday, August 29th, 2023
Broad-winged Hawk, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 29 August 2023.
Broad-winged Hawk.

It was nice to have Jack with me again this morning. The weather as we ascended was gray and foggy, but as we hiked, the fog lifted, and the sun emerged. Few species still, and still a nervousness in the air.

Most notably, perhaps: Whereas as soon as we got out of the truck, I heard the call of a Pileated Woodpecker up above us in the oaks somewhere but I never could find it, later, in the woods, we spooked a hawk, which flew off in the canopy, but somehow I spotted it on distant perch. And got its photo.

Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:46 a.m. EST (8:46 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
2. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
3. Eastern Towhee
4. Gray Catbird
5. Common Yellowthroat
6. Song Sparrow
7. American Goldfinch (v)
8. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
9. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
10. American Robin
11. Blue Jay (v)
12. Cedar Waxwing
13. Black-capped Chickadee
14. Broad-winged Hawk
15. American Crow (v)
16. Tufted Titmouse (v)

Elsewhere

17. Mourning Dove
18. Herring Gull
19. Ring-billed Gull (v)
20. Northern Cardinal (v)
21. Eastern Bluebird

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

 
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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