Yet another wondrously engaging ramble around Beech Hill. Still remembering—finding places where I saw various birds or bird behaviors—and yet soaking up the smells and feels (the dewy air) and sounds of coastal birds of the 44th parallel.
Hard to choose a highlight from today, there were so many sweet moments. I suppose (ironically) it might’ve been when I spied a white-tail staring up at us from a tangle of little trees.
Already looking forward to our hike in the morning.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:26 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Northern Cardinal* 2. American Goldfinch 3. American Crow* 4. Eastern Towhee 5. Northern Flicker (v) 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. Blue Jay (v) 8. Black-and-white Warbler 9. Tufted Titmouse 10. White-breasted Nuthatch 11. Downy Woodpecker** 12. Herring Gull* (v) 13. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 14. White-throated Sparrow (v) 15. Field Sparrow (v) 16. Turkey Vulture 17. Chipping Sparrow** 18. Eastern Bluebird 19. Gray Catbird (v) 20. Song Sparrow** 21. American Robin 22. Broad-winged Hawk 23. Red-breasted Nuthatch 24. Eastern Phoebe* (v) 25. Yellow-rumped Warbler 26. Tree Swallow 27. Savannah Sparrow (v) 28. Blue-headed Vireo (v) 29. Common Raven
Elsewhere
30. Mallard 31. European Starling 32. House Sparrow (v)
Mammals
White-tailed Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Still weird to be seeing Maine birds again. Not bad weird—good weird. Still feel a little lost in an in-between space, like a sort of Twilight Zone, half high desert, half Penobscot Bay coastal hills.
Another bunch today, with a first-of-year Gray Catbird. (Did not see it—just heard its voice.) Just the air (the taste of it), the temperature (tinged with moisture), the old familiar sounds of the place… Both dog and I are truly still in “diggin’ it” mode.
We run into more humans here than in the Mule Deer trails east of Salt Lake City—Beech Hill is way more accessible, after all—but it doesn’t matter at all. Falling back into my role as “trail steward” (cautioning people against letting their dogs off leash, etc.). Enjoying a long watery view.
Funnest moment of the day was the female Pileated Woodpecker that showed up out of the blue, half-posing for demure photos.
(I love this day.)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:38 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Northern Flicker (v) 2. American Goldfinch 3. Blue Jay (v) 4. Eastern Towhee 5. Black-and-white Warbler 6. Black-capped Chickadee 7. White-breasted Nuthatch 8. American Crow* 9. Hermit Thrush (v) 10. Tufted Titmouse 11. Herring Gull* 12. White-throated Sparrow (v) 13. Gray Catbird† (v) 14. Tree Swallow 15. Eastern Bluebird 16. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 17. Song Sparrow 18. Savannah Sparrow (v) 19. Chipping Sparrow** 20. Downy Woodpecker (v) 21. Pileated Woodpecker 22. American Robin 23. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v) 24. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 25. Wild Turkey
Elsewhere
31. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
