A foggy start to a sweet morning of birding. Dog and I got a bit later start, and things were quiet at first. But a lot of the fog burned away within the hour, and birds began to sing, and one of them was a Prairie Warbler.
I love Prairie Warblers. I first heard—then saw—one near Beech Hill Road several years ago. Their song is amazing, a buzzy collection of rising notes.
Heard this one pretty far down in the barrens, and figured I wouldn’t manage a peek, but the bird kept flitting off quite a distance and singing from another tree. Remarkably, as we began to descend toward Beech hill Road, I heard the bird singing quite close—and spied it atop a trail-side birch. Got a couple photos and a video.
It’s mornings like this that give credence to my mantra: “Birding improves your life.”
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:42 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
The woods are full of warblers, woodpeckers, thrushes and such. The barrens bring sparrows and hawks, bluebirds and swallows—and more.
It’s fortunate that Beech Hill has these two habitats, and the miraculous edges between the two. Day by day, you never really know what you’ll get (as you don’t most days wherever you roam), but the open fields are fine and fruitful. Airy. With long views.
Today I saw an Osprey fly over carrying a fish. I encountered territorial disputes among swallows. I heard the sweet voices of the Savannah Sparrows I love.
After my thousands of hikes with dog up there, I’m not sure I could handle one without the other.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:29 a.m., I hiked all trails.
