Another in a string of fair, cool mornings. When much of the rest of the country is suffering through heat waves and droughts and fires and flooding, dog and I are particularly lucky in these challenging days.
Plus, I had thirty bird species on my list today. Notable: a gull in the woods (?), first Hermit Thrush in a while, first Veery in a while, first Ovenbird in a while, first Savannah Sparrow in a while. The latter, in particular rather thrilled me.
What a lovely morning. To be followed by a day of rain—or so they say.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:40 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. American Crow 3. Red-eyed Vireo 4. Red-bellied Woodpecker 5. Ovenbird 6. Herring Gull 7. Brown Creeper 8. Hermit Thrush 9. White-breasted Nuthatch 10. Tufted Titmouse 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Eastern Towhee 13. Veery 14. Gray Catbird 15. American Goldfinch 16. Hairy Woodpecker 17. Song Sparrow 18. Yellow-rumped Warbler 19. Purple Finch 20. Common Yellowthroat 21. Savannah Sparrow 22. Field Sparrow 23. Cedar Waxwing 24. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 25. Yellow Warbler 26. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 27. Eastern Phoebe 28. Blue Jay 29. Least Flycatcher 30. Northern Flicker
Elsewhere
31. Northern Cardinal 32. Carolina Wren
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
A rather auspicious hike with dog this morning. First, the sun emerged after a couple misty days, which mixed things up a bit. Second, we encountered lesser-seen species like hummingbirds, hawks, osprey. Third, we got closer to a wild raven than we ever have.
It was a young bird, and it was in the field near the trail, eating blueberries for breakfast. I’d been checking a birch across from the raven, where I thought I saw a warbler, when it croaked. Its nearness startled me. Just there, not thirty feet away. I managed to grab a few photos, even a video or two, while it popped blueberries into its mouth, croaking occasionally. Then it flapped up into the bird I’d been scanning and preened for a while.
I count it as something of a blessing.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:49 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Blue Jay 2. White-breasted Nuthatch 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. American Crow 5. Red-eyed Vireo 6. Hairy Woodpecker 7. American Goldfinch 8. Eastern Wood-pewee 9. Red-bellied Woodpecker 10. Brown Creeper 11. Eastern Towhee 12. Gray Catbird 13. Cedar Waxwing 14. Purple Finch 15. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 16. Least Flycatcher 17. Black-throated Green Warbler 18. Savannah Sparrow 19. Song Sparrow 20. Cooper’s Hawk 21. Common Raven 22. American Robin 23. Common Yellowthroat 24. Broad-winged Hawk 25. Yellow-rumped Warbler 26. Osprey 27. Red-breasted Nuthatch 28. Hermit Thrush
Elsewhere
29. Mourning Dove 30. Herring Gull
Mammals
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Cool early as dog and I hit the shady trailhead, but warm in a hurry as the sun rose on a humid day. Birds still flitting about, readying for their inevitable travels. Nice selection of species.
Notable: Chimney Swifts, and a Least Flycatcher enjoying the summit fly hatch (along with waxwings). A random Wood Thrush down in the woodlands. Distant gulls. A random Cooper’s Hawk (I believe the first I’ve seen since our return to Maine).
Especially happy to have had a Savannah Sparrow—my favorite sparrow, as certainly I’ve mentioned before—perch and pose for me.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:33 a.m., I hiked most trails.
