Warmer this morning—above freezing and calm, with a mostly blue sky and melting ice on the trail. Such conditions brought more birds out, so it took a while for us to climb through the trees. (I, stopping to listen and shoot photos, Jack, stopping to sniff and pee.)
Up and over, and I had eleven species, but no bluebirds or yellow-rumps, which I kind of expected to see. I even vocalized this minor lament—about five minutes before a dozen of each species appeared.
Called ’em out, I guess.
A bit of rain coming tomorrow, I hear. And temps soon entering the 50s (F).
P.S. Oh, yeah—today was my birthday.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:14 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Common Raven 2. Tufted Titmouse 3. Black-capped Chickadee 4. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v) 5. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 6. American Goldfinch (v) 7. American Crow* (v) 8. Brown Creeper 9. House Finch (v) 10. Northern Cardinal 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Eastern Bluebird 13. Yellow-rumped Warbler 14. Red Crossbill (v)
Elsewhere
15. Herring Gull 16. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
I didn’t bundle up too much for my hike with dog this morning. That’s because the forecast called for calm air and some sun. It was quite calm, in fact, but also mostly overcast early—still, it was a lovely day, and comfortable excursion for both of us.
Penobscot Bay.
More species than yesterday, but fewer photo ops. In fact, the only bird I got a photo of was a crow that happened to fly over our path. (I did miss a few pics of too-quick-moving smaller birds.) But the light over the bay was wondrous, and the air tasted wonderful, and Captain Jack got to smell a bunch of smells and lead me quickly back to the pickup at the end of things.
Now that it’s evening, winter has come. Tomorrow’s will be our first hike in the new season.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:12 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 2. Yellow-rumped Warbler 3. Tufted Titmouse (v) 4. Black-capped Chickadee 5. American Crow 6. Brown Creeper 7. Red Crossbill (v) 8. American Goldfinch (v) 9. Red-breasted Nuthatch 10. Northern Flicker (v) 11. House Finch (v)
Elsewhere
12. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Today was supposed to be storm day, and indeed there was wind and precipitation, but not as strong a wind, and not as much precipitation as I expected. At home, just a trace of snow, but at Beech Hill—just a mile and a half away inland—a couple of inches by the time we reached the trailhead. We were the second hiker group (following a solitary human) of the day.
Quite a few chickadees, distant crows, a flicker sighting, and a raven in overflight. We hiked all trails, and along the lower woods I heard a loud crack and watched as a huge branch of a hardwood tree plummet to the ground in the middle distance. That’ll get your attention.
On our return trip, more chickadees and a titmouse posed for photos.
Tomorrow is Christmas Count day, so we’ll be walking elsewhere early, but well likely still hit the hill in afternoon for a change. (The first time since our return to Maine?)
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:27 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee** 3. Northern Flicker 4. Red Crossbill 5. Common Raven 6. Tufted Titmouse*
Elsewhere
7. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
