Up the trail early with dog on the mostly overcast morning of a day that would later find me down in a different town under a warm and sunny sky. Still many bird species on the hill, including an invisible Great Crested Flycatcher.
A lovely hike it was, then in afternoon I asked Jack to guard the house and headed with my expert gardener friend down to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for the first time. It was a very cool trip to a very cool place, with very cool botanicals and very cool birds of another feather—a soaring eagle among them.
I’d live this lovely June day over again if I could.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:38 a.m. sun time (7:38 DST), I hiked all trails.
A sunny, warm morning hike with dog, birding friends, and interesting birds. Most fun, perhaps, was the appearance of a curious, chipping fledgling cardinal. Also another random Blue-headed Vireo. Another random Barn Swallow (solo this time).
On this warm afternoon I rode 14 miles on my bicycle, where I added a few other species and enjoyed the endorphins and the feeling of the wind in my ears.
We’ll do it again tomorrow, dog and me.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:57 a.m. sun time (7:57 DST), I hiked all trails.
1. Brown Creeper (v) 2. Ovenbird 3. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 4. Eastern Wood-pewee* 5. Black-and-white Warbler 6. Blue Jay (v) 7. Tufted Titmouse (v) 8. Song Sparrow** 9. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 10. Northern Cardinal** 11. Veery (v) 12. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 13. Black-capped Chickadee 14. American Goldfinch 15. Black-throated Blue Warbler (v) 16. Eastern Towhee 17. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 18. Hermit Thrush (v) 19. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 20. Gray Catbird** 21. Common Yellowthroat (v) 22. Field Sparrow (v) 23. Alder Flycatcher (v) 24. Yellow Warbler (v) 25. American Redstart (v) 26. Eastern Bluebird 27. Barn Swallow 28. Eastern Phoebe (v) 29. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 30. Broad-winged Hawk 31. Turkey Vulture 32. American Robin 33. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 34. Chipping Sparrow (v) 35. Blue-headed Vireo (v) 36. American Crow* 37. Cedar Waxwing
Elsewhere
38. Mallard 39. Mourning Dove 40. Herring Gull 41. House Finch 42. Rock Pigeon
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Third straight amazing skies in a row this morning with Captain Jack. Less sun, more shadow—rain in the offing—which might have to do with lighter bird numbers. But two new firsts-of-years showed up on the hill: a pair of Chimney Swifts and a pair of Barn Swallows. Also heard a cuckoo, which was fun.
Plus, I had chats with several fellow hikers—including a few out-of-staters, as the season has arrived.
We got a little wet on our return hike, but it was a light rain, which just added to the fun.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:55 a.m. sun time (8:55 DST), I hiked all trails.
