Blueberry thief (juvenile Herring Gull).
Tiny snake.
Took a quick hike with Jack this morning—up and down in 45 minutes—so I could return to help lead a field trip of enthusiastic middle schoolers studying symbiosis. We saw interesting birds (including a young herring gull eating blueberries, a thing I’d never encountered), studied various insects, and found a tiny snake. It was a fun time.
I also got a look at one happy Cedar Waxwing—perched in a cloud of newly hatched flies, just pickin’ ’em up one by one—and spied a high-flying Red-shouldered Hawk emitting its distinctive (if faraway) cry.
Waxwing heaven, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 13 September 2017.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8 a.m.—and again about 9:15 a.m.—I hiked the open trail.
1. American Crow*
2. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
4. Tufted Titmouse (v)
5. Blue Jay (v)
6. Northern Flicker
7. Savannah Sparrow
8. Eastern Towhee (v)
9. Song Sparrow
10. American Goldfinch**
11. Cedar Waxwing
12. Eastern Phoebe
13. Yellow-rumped Warbler
14. Red-eyed Vireo
15. Black-and-white Warbler
16. Pine Warbler
17. Common Yellowthroat
18. Gray Catbird
19. Downy Woodpecker
20. Herring Gull*
21. Common Raven (v)
22. Red-shouldered Hawk
Elsewhere
23. Mourning Dove
24. Northern Cardinal
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, blue jay, Cedar waxwing, common raven, common yellowthroat, downy woodpecker, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, gray catbird, herring gull, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, pine warbler, Redeyed Vireo, Redshouldered Hawk, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, Whitebreasted Nuthatch, yellowrumped warbler
