7 November 2026

Posts Tagged ‘northern cardinal’

Wee Migrant

Friday, September 22nd, 2023
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 22 September 2023.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Subtle evidence of fall migration is upon is. For several days I’ve heard and/or seen Yellow-rumped Warblers; yesterday I heard a White-throated Sparrow note; today at least a dozen yellow-rumps flitted above me—and I spied a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet.

In summer, yellow-rumps and kinglets tend to hang out in coniferous forests, so I typically only see them during migration. The last white-throat I saw or heard was in spring (they’re very good at hiding out in summer). Of course there’ve also been hawks moving through, and vultures.

Perhaps most telling: Tomorrow is the first day of fall.

Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:40 a.m. EST (8:40 DST), I hiked the wooded trails.

1. Northern Flicker (v)
2. Northern Cardinal** (v)
3. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
4. Hairy Woodpecker
5. Tufted Titmouse (v)
6. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
7. Blue Jay (v)
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Eastern Towhee (v)
10. Gray Catbird (v)
11. Yellow-rumped Warbler
12. Song Sparrow
13. American Crow* (v)
14. Downy Woodpecker
15. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Elsewhere

16. Herring Gull

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

Breezy

Tuesday, September 19th, 2023
Eastern Bluebird, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 19 September 2023.
Eastern Bluebird.

Cool and overcast to start soon became bright and breezy. An interesting array of bird species—three ravens, a flushed woodcock, bluebirds in the woodlands—and plenty of humans (and a couple of dogs) out enjoying the change in the weather.

Common Raven, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 19 September 2023.
Common Raven.

Got no complaints about Nature’s offerings this fine day. And tomorrow I help with a middle school hike. Fun!

Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:30 a.m. EST (8:30 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
3. Common Raven
4. Song Sparrow
5. Turkey Vulture*
6. Blue Jay**
7. American Crow* (v)
8. Northern Flicker (v)
9. Gray Catbird (v)
10. Hermit Thrush
11. Eastern Towhee (v)
12. Eastern Bluebird
13. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
14. American Woodcock
15. American Robin
16. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
17. Herring Gull*

Elsewhere

18. Carolina Wren (v)
19. Mourning Dove
20. Northern Cardinal (v)

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

Tropical Storm

Saturday, September 16th, 2023
Deadfall at the trailhead, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 16 September 2023.
Deadfall at the trailhead.

Welp, Tropical Storm Lee showed up right on time, and after a bit of a wishy-washy delay, I headed to the main trail with Jack-my-dog, where we met up with our dog friend Oscar, and the three of us ascended in a howling wind and a pretty good rain.

Didn’t expect to have a bird on my list this morning, but as we were descending toward Beech Hill Road, I heard the distinct alert call of a Red-eyed Vireo. Then I saw the bird flit away into the trees, where I heard what sounded like the faint cries of a youngster. No strikeout, after all.

Tomorrow’s forecast: sunny and breezy. What a difference a day makes.

Beech Hill List
Starting at 8:06 a.m. EST (9:06 DST), I hiked the main trail.

1. Red-eyed Vireo

Elsewhere

2. Northern Cardinal (v)
3. American Crow

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

†First-of-year

 
Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson



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