Dog and I hit the hill early this morning. That’s because rain was approaching—and approaching pretty fast, from what the weather radar showed. In case we needed to hightail it early, I parked in the main lot for the first time since our return to Maine. (Closer to the birch I photograph every day.)
Not many species, as you might imagine, but ending with a real nice sighting: a Swainson’s Thrush (first for me in years). It perched high in an oak, within view, but it was backlit, and I couldn’t ID it with my eyes—but it uttered a quick scratchy call (“oriole?” I thought) and, as it flew away, sang a few sweet little notes. Confirmed later that it was a thrush, but none that I knew well. Swainson’s occurred to me, so I checked. Exactly the vocalizations I’d heard.
The rain did arrive, although we likely didn’t have to hurry. Good and soaking. Still need more, though.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6:48 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Goldfinch**
2. American Crow* (v)
3. Blue Jay
4. Black-capped Chickadee**
5. Song Sparrow
6. Eastern Towhee (v)
7. Common Yellowthroat (v)
8. Eastern Wood-pewee
9. White-breasted Nuthatch
10. Brown Creeper (v)
11. Tufted Titmouse (v)
12. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
13. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
14. Gray Catbird (v)
15. Swainson’s Thrush†
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown creeper, common yellowthroat, eastern towhee, eastern wood-pewee, gray catbird, red-breasted nuthatch, red-eyed vireo, song sparrow, Swainson's thrush, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
