This day was sunny and breeezy—a stout wind whipping our way from the west-northwest. I wasn’t sure what to expect, bird-wise (as is usually the case), but right away, I saw a White-crowned Sparrow. I only see that species on the hill during migration, so that was fun.
A Song Sparrow joined the white-crowned after a little while.
Down on the wooded trails, ticks are still lurking. Few bird species—but I did hear a vireo and a flicker. (The wind in the canopy dampened the voices of birds.)
Returning down the main trail, we encountered a handsome White-throated Sparrow. Nice. And tomorrow we venture to Monhegan Island. In high seas, apparently, thanks to a hurricane (thankfully far) offshore.
Will keep you posted.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:29 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* 2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 3. White-crowned Sparrow 4. Common Yellowthroat (v) 5. Song Sparrow 6. Yellow-rumped Warbler 7. Blue Jay 8. Eastern Towhee (v) 9. Northern Flicker (v) 10. Sharp-shinned Hawk 11. American Goldfinch 12. Black-capped Chickadee 13. White-throated Sparrow 14. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
Elsewhere
15. Northern Cardinal 16. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
American Red Squirrel Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
The wind was a-whippin’ when dog and I hit the trailhead this morning. Temps about 60 (F), but 20, 30, 40 mile-an-hour gusts. Although it was a favorable southerly wind, I didn’t exactly expect to see a bunch of birds—let alone any first-of-year migrants—in such extreme conditions.
In fact, I didn’t see any first-of-year birds. But I managed to see a good bunch of species.
Most notably were a couple of windblown White-crowned Sparrows. And on a utility pole just above the sparrows perched the neighborhood red-tail. Quail, vulture, gnatcatcher, kinglet—a pretty good selection for the beginnings of a turbulent weather day.
Couple of rainy, snow days coming up, looks like, but Sunday looks nice. Hitting the road on Monday.
Grandeur Peak Area List At 7:55 a.m., sun time, I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.
1. American Robin* 2. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (v) 3. Song Sparrow** (v) 4. Rock Pigeon* 5. Spotted Towhee 6. Eurasian Collared-dove* 7. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 8. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay 9. House Finch* 10. California Quail** (v) 11. White-crowned Sparrow 12. Red-tailed Hawk 13. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (v) 14. Cooper’s Hawk (v) 15. Turkey Vulture 16. Pine Siskin (v)
Elsewhere
17. House Sparrow (v) 18. Lesser Goldfinch `19. European Starling 20. American Crow (v)
Mammals
Mule Deer
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
