Another fine day of hiking in mild weather through the woodlands to the summit of a scenic coastal hill with early-ripening lowbush blueberries. Things began slow—cool, breezy, rather dry—but picked up as dog and I got near the summit. Not as many species as yesterday, but plenty of action.
Notable were all the juvies around—both new begging fledglings and older youngsters (teenagers, let’s say) flitting silently around on their own for the first time. Among the latter were a pair of Hermit Thrushes, one of them seeming curious about Jack and me. Several others I only became aware of on account of their thin, subtle begging voices in the thick greenery. The likes of Chestnut-sided Warblers, I bet, and Common Yellowthroats.
Again on the open trail, we encountered a Savannah Sparrow, who perched on a trailside birch and chipped loudly to warn the youngsters.
I’d take several days like this one.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:42 a.m., I hiked most trails.
A nearly cloudless, chilly morning—chilly in a good Maine spring way. Was quiet coming up the wooded trail, but by the end of things, I had a goodly number of species on my list.
Most notable today was the celebratory appearance of a House Wren atop the post of the bluebird box down near Beech Hill Road. Singing his head off, he was. Sprays of brown grass tumbled out of the box hole. Could it be we’ll have a wren’s nest this year.
Grackle was another first-of-preserve bird—a flyover.
A lovely first of June day.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:37 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Eastern Phoebe 3. Ovenbird** 4. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v) 5. Song Sparrow** 6. Common Yellowthroat 7. Northern Cardinal** (v) 8. Chestnut-sided Warbler 9. Downy Woodpecker 10. Pileated Woodpecker (drumming) 11. American Redstart** 12. Veery** 13. Gray Catbird** 14. Blue Jay (v) 15. American Goldfinch 16. American Crow* 17. Eastern Towhee 18. Black-capped Chickadee** 19. Alder Flycatcher 20. Yellow Warbler 21. Field Sparrow (v) 22. Tree Swallow 23. American Robin* 24. Prairie Warbler (v) 25. Savannah Sparrow 26. Eastern Bluebird 27. House Wren† 28. Common Raven (v) 29. Scarlet Tanager 30. Tufted Titmouse** 31. Common Grackle† 32. Chipping Sparrow** 33. Eastern Wood-pewee
Elsewhere
34. Mallard 35 Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
