In my thirty-something days of Maine hikes with dog so far, I’ve noticed a few differences in the bird populations from when we moved to Utah in the summer of 2019. For one thing, a Prairie Warbler—once an uncommon (but thrilling) visitor to Beech Hill—has claimed its territory. Clearly global warming has brought this species farther north.
For another thing, after hearing Scarlet Tanagers weeks earlier than usual, I have yet to see one. Have they moved through? Are they nesting already? Will I see fledglings?
Meanwhile, I’ve encountered no Black-throated Blue Warbler. My favorite wood-warbler, I miss seeing and hearing this lovely looking (and sounding) bird. Very few waxwings also. And of course there was that Summer Tanager a couple weeks ago.
But it’s still a bit early yet. I’ll get a better idea once fledglings emerge. Another miracle to look forward to.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Ovenbird** 3. Eastern Phoebe* 4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 5. Common Yellowthroat 6. Veery (v) 7. American Goldfinch 8. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 9. American Crow* (v) 10. American Redstart** (v) 11. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 12. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 13. Gray Catbird* 14. Alder Flycatcher 15. Eastern Towhee 16. Tufted Titmouse (v) 17. Eastern Wood-pewee 18. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 19. Yellow Warbler 20. Black-billed Cuckoo (v) 21. American Woodcock† 22. Song Sparrow* 23. Tree Swallow 24. Osprey 25. Chipping Sparrow 26. Prairie Warbler 27. House Wren 28. Turkey Vulture 29. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 30. Northern Parula (v) 31. Field Sparrow (v) 32. Broad-winged Hawk 33. American Robin (v) 34. Northern Cardinal** (v)
Elsewhere
35. Mallard 36. European Starling 37. Herring Gull 38. Rock Pigeon 39. Double-crested Cormorant
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
It was a lovely early morning hike with Jack-my-dog. We got up the hill early, under mostly sunny skies with a breeze that sent droplets down from new leaves damp with overnight rain. A raven greeted us at the trail head with loud, liquid croaking, and a nice variety of other birds appeared.
Had conversations with a few other early Sunday hikers, all of us digging the weather, the clean air, the views. If all days could be like this particular June day, I don’t think many would mind.
Rain forecast for late in the coming week, but tomorrow should be another fine one.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Ovenbird** 3. Common Raven 4. Eastern Phoebe* 5. American Robin* (v) 6. Song Sparrow** 7. Common Yellowthroat** 8. Northern Cardinal (v) 9. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 10. Veery 11. American Goldfinch** 12. American Crow* 13. American Redstart** (v) 14. Chestnut-sided Warbler 15. Black-capped Chickadee 16. Gray Catbird** 17. Alder Flycatcher (v) 18. Eastern Towhee 19. Tufted Titmouse (v) 20. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 21. Black-and-white Warbler 22. Yellow Warbler 23. Red-breasted Nuthatch 24. Field Sparrow (v) 25. Herring Gull* 26. Prairie Warbler 27. Turkey Vulture 28. House Wren 29. Great Crested Flycatcher 30. Least Flycatcher (v) 31. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 32. Purple Finch (v) 33. Tree Swallow 34. Hermit Thrush (v) 35. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
Elsewhere
36. Mallard 37. Wild Turkey
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Had a late-morning hike with dog today on account of his introductory visit with the new vet. Rained earlier, but by the time we hit the trail, the sun had come out. And so had the people. And the birds.
Had a couple nice, interesting chats. Led a quick tour of Beech Nut. Photographed coasting schooners. And came upon a first-of-year pair of kingbirds. Also hawk and vulture and pair of ospreys, but the kingbirds— fluttering about in the spruce grove on the summit—kind of took the cake.
Still a few resident species I haven’t yet heard or seen (e.g., Black-throated Blue Warbler), though, which gives me hope for the near future.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 10:52 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Song Sparrow** 3. Ovenbird** 4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 5. Common Yellowthroat (v) 6. American Crow* (v) 7. Veery (v) 8. American Goldfinch 9. American Redstart (v) 10. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 11. Tufted Titmouse (v) 12. Gray Catbird 13. Eastern Towhee 14. Alder Flycatcher 15. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 16. Field Sparrow 17. Yellow Warbler 18. Blue Jay (v) 19. Tree Swallow 20. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 21. Eastern Kingbird† 22. Turkey Vulture 23. Prairie Warbler (v) 24. Broad-winged Hawk 25. Eastern Bluebird 26. House Wren 27. Eastern Phoebe 28. Chipping Sparrow (v) 29. Purple Finch 30. Nashville Warbler (v) 31. Osprey 32. Black-and-white Warbler (v)
Elsewhere
33. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
