A later hike with dog this morning. Foggier than yesterday. But surprisingly birdy, nonetheless.
Highlights were a couple of hummingbird sightings (first-of-year birds), as well as the hoots from the bottomlands of a Barred Owl (also first of year, I guess you could say).
Still several species that haven’t showed up yet. Anticipation.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:16 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Eastern Phoebe* 2. Ovenbird** 3. Black-throated Green Warbler** 4. American Goldfinch (v) 5. Tufted Titmouse (v) 6. Black-and-white Warbler 7. American Robin 8. Gray Catbird 9. Blue Jay 10. Chestnut-sided Warbler 11. Black-capped Chickadee 12. American Crow* 14. Eastern Towhee 15. Ruby-throated Hummingbird† 16. Common Yellowthroat 17. White-throated Sparrow 18. Hermit Thrush (v) 19. Yellow Warbler (v) 20. Song Sparrow** 21. Tree Swallow 22. Field Sparrow (v) 23. Nashville Warbler (v) 24. Yellow-rumped Warbler 25. Northern Parula 26. Barred Owl (v) 27. Blue-headed Vireo (v) 28. Wild Turkey 29. Hairy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
30. Mallard 31. European Starling 32. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
It was pretty warm already when Captain Jack and I hit the lower wooded trail this morning, earlier than the past few. Mid- to upper-60s to start (and mid- to upper-70s when we got done). So it was a bit slow for Jack, with his thick coat and all.
But we made it OK—and my list happened to end up with a bodacious number of bird species.
Three of which were firsts-of-year, none of which I saw—but their voices gave ’em away (Wood Thrush, Least Flycatcher, and Scarlet Tanager). Maybe tomorrow I’ll get a photo of one or the other.
Mid-may is a wondrous time of year for a bird nerd.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:17 a.m., I hiked all trails.
Had a good sleep and awoke to a semi-foggy yet rather warm morning. Checked online and found that the overnight wind direction was south. Decided 12 May might be an auspicious day.
And, by golly, it sorta was: most species in Maine so far, along with four first-of-year birds—and ten warblers total. (Three of the warblers were first of year.) Also got my first photo of a catbird, which was something of a thrill. We also surprised a White-tailed Deer down the lower wooded trail, and I got to watch how they fly in great bounds through the understory (unlike the Mule Deers’ funny hop through the scrub.
Back home, had another few nice looks—including a turkey in the west yard. Plus, as a find bonus, I rode more than eight miles on my bicycle (first ride since I lived here last—lovely).
All in all, a very nice day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:42 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Ovenbird** 2. Black-and-white Warbler** 3. Black-throated Green Warbler** 4. Pine Warbler** 5. Northern Parula** 6. American Goldfinch 7. Northern Flicker (v) 8. Chestnut-sided Warbler 9. Black-capped Chickadee 10. Eastern Towhee 11. Blue Jay 12. Gray Catbird 13. American Crow* 14. Tufted Titmouse** (v) 15. Nashville Warbler† (v) 16. Yellow Warbler 17. Song Sparrow 18. Rose-breasted Grosbeak† 19. Common Yellowthroat† 20. American Robin 21. Chipping Sparrow** 22. Northern Cardinal* 23. Eastern Phoebe* 24. Osprey 25. Broad-winged Hawk* 26. Hermit Thrush (v) 27. Field Sparrow 28. White-throated Sparrow 29. Turkey Vulture 30. Palm Warbler 31. American Redstart† 32. Red-winged Blackbird 33. White-breasted Nuthatch 34. Herring Gull* 35. Blue-headed Vireo
Elsewhere
36. Wild Turkey 37. Mourning Dove 38. European Starling 39. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
White-tailed Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
