Crow and redtail.
Saw a crow harassing a red-tailed hawk in the sky above Beech Hill today—not exactly a first. But it got me thinking of all the various birds I’ve seen crows harass up there. Kestrel, bald eagle, raven. Must be a drag to be a big carnivorous bird with crows pestering you all the time. And for some reason today’s sighting reminded me of one I had my first full year in Maine years ago: a redtail being harassed by a crow being harassed by a grackle. Single file.
Wood nymph at Beech Hill.
Sun and wind today until late. About the time Jack and I began our hike, in fact, was when blue-gray began to rise in the western sky. By the time we’d reached the summit, the sky was about half cloudy. And by the time we arrived back at the parking lot, we had us a full-blown overcast.
But early on, I did get the pleasure of hearing my first laughing gull of the year over at Clam Cove, where a turkey vulture circling overhead. An osprey’s cry while out cycling. Pairs of titmice and chickadees engaged in quiet dining before dusk out back. It began to rain lightly a minute ago.
I’ve got a new camera coming tomorrow. Just in time for the warblers’ return.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. American goldfinch (v)*
2. American robin*
3. Eastern towhee (v)
4. Ruffed grouse
5. Mourning dove* (wingbeats)
6. Herring gull*
7. American crow*
8. Red-tailed hawk
9. Black-capped chickadee*
10. Wild turkey (v)
11. Hairy woodpecker
Elsewhere
12. Northern cardinal (v)
13. Tufted titmouse
14. House finch
15. Laughing gull (v)
16. Turkey vulture
17. Song sparrow (v)
18. House sparrow (v)
19. Osprey
20. Mallard
21. European starling (v)
22. White-breasted nuthatch (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Maple blossoms, Glen Cove, Rockport, Maine, 26 April 2012.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, eastern towhee, European starling, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, laughing gull, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, osprey, red-tailed hawk, ruffed grouse, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, white-breasted nuthatch, wild turkey
