A hazy sun was rising when dog and I arrived at the wooded trailhead this morning. I’d seen where the smoke from big wildfires in Canada might waft this way, and I’m pretty sure that’s the source of some of the haze that turned the sun orange. A very faint smell of smoke, perhaps (but nowhere near as strong as the smell of those western fires while we were in Utah).
Birds were about, though—many of them. Notable was a solitary hummingbird, a calling sapsucker, and a posing Chipping Sparrow. The chippy got me thinking about how thankful I am for the various sparrows I see nearly every day (my favorite being the Savannah Sparrow—don’t tell the others.
First-of-year goldenrod today, and fresh red sumac drupes. Less rain in the forecast, and warm temps. Summer on the coast of Maine.
Beech Hill List Starting at 6:30 a.m. EST (7:30 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. Eastern Phoebe 3. Black-throated Green Warbler 4. Ovenbird 5. Tufted Titmouse 6. Veery 7. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 8. American Goldfinch 9. Eastern Wood-pewee 10. Black-capped Chickadee 11. Blue Jay 12. White-breasted Nuthatch 13. Brown Creeper 14. Hermit Thrush 15. American Crow 16. Gray Catbird 17. Eastern Towhee 18. Common Yellowthroat 19. Chestnut-sided Warbler 20. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 21. Song Sparrow 22. Chipping Sparrow 23. Yellow Warbler 24. Field Sparrow 25. Tree Swallow 26. Savannah Sparrow 27. Mourning Dove 28. Northern Cardinal 29. Cedar Waxwing 30. Eastern Bluebird 31. American Robin 32. Downy Woodpecker 33. Black-and-white Warbler 34. American Redstart 35. Hairy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
36. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Up the trail in the fog again this morning with dog. No rain, though—just dampness all about. Birds don’t seem as active in this summer fogginess we’ve been having, but of course the job of raising youngsters makes them shy. Had more species on my list than yesterday during the rain.
Ironically, today’s hike was in fog preceding a mostly warm and sunny afternoon. Notable was a vulture floating overhead in the fog and a lovely female towhee that posed.
Tomorrow’s might be a brighter morning.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:01 a.m. EST (8:01 DST), I hiked all trails.
In the cool 60s (F) this morning, with another low layer of fog obscuring things. Soon after Captain Jack and I began our ascent (via the main trail) a light rain began to fall. It didn’t rain for long—but we remained wet while walking through that cloud.
Quite a few birds species, nevertheless—among them a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak with a couple of moths in its beak. A singing Veery also posed, but it’s hard to get an award-winning photo in such dark, dim, gray conditions.
Down on the wooded trail, I heard distant thunder and figured we’d better pick up our pace. But after a few more rumbles, the thunder stopped, and it began to rain lightly again as we descended.
I suppose the thunder was a preview of what’s forecast for tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Starting at 7:12 a.m. EST (8:12 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Mourning Dove 2. Chestnut-sided Warbler 3. Red-eyed Vireo 4. American Robin 5. Song Sparrow 6. Northern Cardinal 7. American Crow 8. American Goldfinch 9. Ovenbird 10. Black-throated Green Warbler 11. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 12. Cedar Waxwing 13. Common Yellowthroat 14. Gray Catbird 15. Eastern Towhee 16. Northern Parula 17. Blue Jay 18. Black-capped Chickadee 19. Yellow Warbler 20. Downy Woodpecker 21. Hermit Thrush 22. Eastern Wood-pewee 23. White-breasted Nuthatch 24. Veery 25. American Redstart 26. Black-and-white Warbler 27. Northern Flicker 28. Brown Creeper
Elsewhere
29. Rock Pigeon 30. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
