I watched a towhee preen today.
It dipped its bill into its breast and
plucked each feather up by the base,
then pulled it, nibbling, clear to the tip
in a trembling, dainty motion.
Yellow Warbler.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow*
2. Wild Turkey
3. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
4. Ovenbird
5. Common Yellowthroat
6. American Redstart** (v)
7. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
8. Chestnut-sided Warbler
9. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
10. Eastern Phoebe* (v)
11. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
12. Veery
13. Northern Cardinal**
14. American Goldfinch*
15. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
16. Gray Catbird*
17. Northern Flicker
18. Eastern Towhee
19. Alder Flycatcher
20. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
21. Great Crested Flycatcher (v)
22. Black-and-white Warbler**
23. Blue Jay**
24. Yellow Warbler
25. Cedar Waxwing (v)
26. Field Sparrow
27. Song Sparrow
28. Scarlet Tanager (v)
29. Tree Swallow
30. Purple Finch
31. Savannah Sparrow
32. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
33. American Robin*
34. Mourning Dove* (v)
Elsewhere
35. European Starling
36. Herring Gull
37. Northern Mockingbird
38. Pine Warbler (v)
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Scrambled around this morning to make sure to get to the boat on time. Made it! And within the hour, daughter and I were setting foot on Monhegan Island. A more magical place I’m not sure I’ve ever been to.
Monarch butterfly.
The usual fall-migration birding hasn’t really taken off yet, from what I understand. And I didn’t spot many species—nor any “lifers” yet, as I seem nearly always to do out here. But it’s great to be here, wonderful to introduce Sarah (no birder, although she likes birds) to the place, Lovely to run into old friends whom I see just once a year.
Perhaps the most inspiring thing I’ve witnessed out here is the large number of Monarch butterflies moving through. What with the bane that is Roundup®, and the decline of milkweed, this lovely butterfly’s numbers have taken a nosedive lately. I’d seen just one this year before setting foot out here—and now, barely ten hours later, I can attest to having seen at least fifty or sixty—plus, a few chrysalises.
Also ravens, sharpies, an Osprey, an oriole, and other birds.
I can hardly believe we’re here for five more days.
Monhegan Island List Beginning at about 11:30 a.m., I walked around Monhegan.
1. Herring Gull*
5. Northern Mockingbird
6. Northern Flicker
7. Sharp-shinned Hawk
8. Common Raven
9. Osprey
10. Peregrine Falcon
11. Common Grackle
12. Eastern Phoebe
13. Black-capped Chickadee
14. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
15. Song Sparrow
16. European Starling
17. American Crow*
18. Great Cormorant
19. Cedar Waxwing**
20. Common Eider
21. Yellow-rumped Warbler
22. Yellow Warbler
23. Baltimore Oriole
Elsewhere
24. Mourning dove
25. Bald Eagle
26. Belted Kingfisher
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
The towhees were singing this morning at Beech Hill. “Drink your tea!” all over the place. I put together a little video.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.
I also got a look (or listen) at three first-of-year species—including a Black-throated Green warbler, which was wholly unexpected and seemed kind of early, actually. Third warbler of the season.
Also got a nice look at a raven. Noticed a Great Blue Heron flying over only because it flashed a little shadow as it passed between me and the sun.
Sunny, a little breezy, warmer than it’s been in a while. I even went on an eighteen-mile bicycle ride this afternoon. Also a first of the year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
2. American Robin
3. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)
4. Bue Jay (v)
5. American Goldfinch** (v)
6. Purple Finch (v)
7. Red-winged Blackbird
8. Eastern Towhee
9. Mourning Dove* (v)
10. White-throated Sparrow
11. Greater Yellowlegs† (v)
12. Yellow-rumped Warbler
13. Song Sparrow**
14. American Crow*
15. Herring Gull*
16. Eastern Phoebe
17. Northern Cardinal** (v)
18. Chipping Sparrow** (v)
19. Tree Swallow
20. Northern Flicker** (v)
21. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming)
22. Great Blue Heron†
23. Savannah Sparrow
24. Common Raven
25. Downy Woodpecker
26. Pine Warbler (v)
27. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
28. Black-throated Green Warbler† (v)
29. Osprey
Elsewhere
30. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
30. House Sparrow (v)
31. Northern Mockingbird
32. Rock Pigeon
33. Canada Goose
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird
