Cedar Waxwing, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 19 August 2014.
Ethereal swarms of nearly invisible flies float here and there along the trails of Beech Hill Preserve when the afternoon sun warms the air these days. The flies draw loose flocks of Cedar Waxwings.
Eastern Black Swallowtail.
As Jack and I ascended late this afternoon, the waxwings didn’t disappoint—although there aren’t flies in the numbers yet to cause such dramatic hovering as I watched them perform last year. Still, every day up there the waxwings descend. I think they might also be eating a few ripe blueberries. The organic farm is still producing, by the way.
Not many other species were so conspicuous, although I watched a few families of Song Sparrows and Eastern Towhees.
I also got a look at a few Eastern Black Swallowtail butterflies. It’s their time of year here as well.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Eastern Towhee
2. Cedar Waxwing**
3. American Goldfinch
4. Song Sparrow
5. Gray Catbird (v)
6. Common Yellowthroat
7. Eastern Bluebird
8. Savannah Sparrow (v)
9. Mourning Dove* (v)
Elsewhere
10. American Crow
11. Herring Gull
12. Canada Goose
13. European Starling
14. American Robin
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, Canada goose, Cedar waxwing, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, herring gull, mourning dove, ray catbird, savannah sparrow, song sparrowg
