We had a lovely hike on the hill this morning, dog and I—many birds, big skies, just a very wonderful experience. But the highlight of this day happened at evening. About 8:30 this evening, in fact, at a friend’s house near Clam Cove, less than a mile from me. Off in the woods I heard the voice of a Chuck Will’s Widow.
Decades ago, I used to hear Eastern Whip-poor-wills here on the coast at night—multiples even. But for the past twenty years or more, the only goatsucker I’ve encountered has been (very rarely) a Common Nighthawk in flight. Chuck Will’s Widows aren’t even supposed to range this far north along the coast.
Made for an exciting day for me.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:45 a.m. sun time (7:45 DST), I hiked all trails.
Another two-hike day: one for me (Beech Hill) and one for Jack (the Wellness Trail). That’s a load of steps for me, but an easier time of it for my good ol’ dog. Good birds in both places—leafy green in deep spring—but my list here will stick to the Beech Hill hike.
Firsts-of-year are likely over with this spring—a thing that’s seemed to happen a little early (perhaps even earlier than last year)—but plenty of busy, territorial, shy, musical avian species.
Supposed to be a warmer one tomorrow. It’s exciting not to know what surprises will come.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:37 a.m. sun time (7:37 DST), I hiked all trails, and then some.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Ovenbird** 3. Black-throated Green Warbler** 4. Eastern Phoebe* 5. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 6. Veery (v) 7. Eastern Towhee 8. Blue Jay 9. American Goldfinch (v) 10. Gray Catbird* 11. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 12. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 13. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 14. Northern Cardinal** (v) 15. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 16. Tufted Titmouse (v) 17. Brown Creeper (v) 18. American Crow* 19. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 20. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 21. Common Yellowthroat** 22. Field Sparrow (v) 23. Yellow Warbler 24. Alder Flycatcher 25. Downy Woodpecker 26. Song Sparrow** 27. Cedar Waxwing (v) 28. Eastern Bluebird 29. Chipping Sparrow** 30. Scarlet Tanager (v) 31. Red-winged Blackbird (v) 32. Least Flycatcher (v) 33. American Redstart* (v) 34. American Robin (v) 35. Purple Finch (v)
Captain Jack, age 15, has been limping a little (front foot), so I made the hard decision to let him sit out this morning’s hike for the first time in years. A very hard decision.
Memorial Day was sunny and cool and breezy, and people were out and about, and so were birds. Most notable was probably the individual Cedar Waxwing I spied at the summit. Only the second waxwing sighting of the year—although more will show up in summer for the annual fly hatch up there.
Felt bad that dog didn’t get a hike, and a friend suggested a short trail near the house, which we three hiked in afternoon. Jack liked the new smells. We’ll do more of that going forward, for sure.
Supposed to start warming up again. We shall see.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:08 a.m. sun time (7:08 DST), I hiked all trails, and then some.
