7 November 2026

Posts Tagged ‘downy woodpecker’

Spring Migration

Saturday, April 29th, 2023

This morning’s hike with dog happened under mostly blue skies, in mostly calm winds, and amid many, many bird species—thirty-four in all (a record for the year so far.

(Speaking of—exactly a year ago today is when Jack and I arrived back in Maine. Time flies.)

First-of-year bird? Black-throated Green Warbler. Other notable migrants would be three Broad-winged Hawks, a raven and a vulture, and multiple Blue-headed Vireos.

And in afternoon I got a good ride on my bike in.

Tomorrow will be rainy. In fact, so will the following three days. We shall see how it goes!

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:09 a.m. real time (8:01 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Eastern Phoebe
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. Northern Flicker (v)
4. Red-bellied Woodpecker** (v)
5. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
6. Blue-headed Vireo
7. Eastern Towhee
8. American Goldfinch**
9. Downy Woodpecker
10. Purple Finch**
11. American Crow*
12. Herring Gull* (v)
13. Northern Cardinal** (v)
14. Blue Jay (v)
15. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming)
16. Tufted Titmouse**
17. Eastern Bluebird
18. American Robin
19. Brown Creeper (v)
20. Mourning Dove* (v)
21. Hermit Thrush
22. Black-throated Green Warbler† (v)
23. Yellow-rumped Warbler
24. Tree Swallow
25. Field Sparrow
26. Song Sparrow**
27. Chipping Sparrow**
28. Savannah Sparrow
29. Canada Goose (v)
30. Common Loon (v)
31. Broad-winged Hawk
32. Turkey Vulture
33. Common Raven
34. Wild Turkey

Elsewhere

35. Pine Warbler (v)
36. Mallard

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

Nearly May

Thursday, April 27th, 2023
American Robin (with nest materials), Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 27 April 2023.
American Robin (with nest materials).

Around here, May is the month when things really start hoppin’. At least that’s been my observation over the past few decades. It’s why I timed my move with Jack back to Maine at the end of April a year ago. And today you could really tell it’s nearly May.

For one thing, the robins are nesting. For another a pair of Broad-winged Hawks flew over. And another: a Winter Wren in the woodlands, along with some Blue-headed Vireos.

We’re expecting a patch of rain, but thereafter will come our wave of sweet-singing warblers and other species.

I was about to write “I can hardly wait”—but I’m a patient man: I can wait.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:01 a.m. real time (8:01 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Chipping Sparrow
2. Northern Cardinal** (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
5. American Crow*
6. Eastern Towhee
7. Mourning Dove* (v)
8. American Goldfinch
9. Blue Jay (v)
10. Song Sparrow
11. American Robin
12. Purple Finch** (v)
13. Red-winged Blackbird (v)
14. Savannah Sparrow
15. Field Sparrow
16. Eastern Phoebe**
17. Canada Goose
18. Yellow-rumped Warbler
19. Herring Gull* (v)
20. Downy Woodpecker (v)
21. Winter Wren (v)
22. Blue-headed Vireo (v)
23. Brown Creeper (v)
24. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
25. Hermit Thrush (v)
26. Eastern Bluebird
27. Turkey Vulture*
28. Common Loon 9v)
29. Tree Swallow
30. Broad-winged Hawk

Mammals

Eastern Gray Squirrel

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

Fog, Revisited

Tuesday, April 25th, 2023
Glimpse of Tufted Titmouse, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 25 April 2023.
Glimpse of Tufted Titmouse.

A day very much like yesterday—but without yesterday’s rain. This morning, dog and I encountered water in the form of a thick fog (and streams running down the trails). But unlike yesterday, birds were vocal and active.

Never would I have imagined I’d end with more than two dozen species on my list. No first-of-year species, but everything from a Mallard (voice only, flying over) to a first-of-year-singing Savannah Sparrow (my favorite sparrow).

The sparrow was especially fun. I simply love its sibilant, insect-like song—which carries so far. Even in a thick fog.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:02 a.m. real time (8:02 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Tufted Titmouse**
2. Eastern Towhee
3. American Robin**
4. Northern Cardinal** (v)
5. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
6. Dark-eyed Junco (v)
7. Black-capped Chickadee* (v)
8. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
9. Northern Flicker (v)
10. Chipping Sparrow
11. American Crow*
12. Song Sparrow*
13. Hermit Thrush (v)
14. Wild Turkey* (v)
15. Purple Finch** (v)
16. Field Sparrow (v)
17. Savannah Sparrow
18. Yellow-rumped Warbler
19. Eastern phoebe**
29. Mallard* (v)
21. Downy Woodpecker (v)
22. Eastern Bluebird (v)
23. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
24. Red-winged Blackbird (v)
25. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)

Elsewhere

26. Herring Gull
27. Rock Pigeon

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

 
Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson



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