It was pretty warm already when Captain Jack and I hit the lower wooded trail this morning, earlier than the past few. Mid- to upper-60s to start (and mid- to upper-70s when we got done). So it was a bit slow for Jack, with his thick coat and all.
But we made it OK—and my list happened to end up with a bodacious number of bird species.
Three of which were firsts-of-year, none of which I saw—but their voices gave ’em away (Wood Thrush, Least Flycatcher, and Scarlet Tanager). Maybe tomorrow I’ll get a photo of one or the other.
Mid-may is a wondrous time of year for a bird nerd.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:17 a.m., I hiked all trails.
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
