A fairly early morning, summer warmish, with an overcast becoming clear by the time we hit the trail, dog and I. Again we first took the lower wooded trail (which will continue), and again a surprisingly good number of species.
Most noteworthy, though, was the voice of a Black-throated Blue Warbler within a few minutes of our embarking. My favorite warbler, but one I hadn’t encountered upon returning to Maine before today. Didn’t see it, wasn’t sure what I was hearing at first—but there it was.
Sure would love to see one. ??
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:26 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Black-throated Green Warbler** (v) 3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 4. Hermit Thrush 5. Ovenbird (v) 6. American Goldfinch** 7. Black-throated Blue Warbler† (v) 8. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 9. Wood Thrush (v) 10. Veery 11. Tufted Titmouse (v) 12. Downy Woodpecker 13. Blue Jay 14. American Crow 15. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 16. Eastern Towhee 17. Gray Catbird 18. American Robin* (v) 19. Black-capped Chickadee** 20. Common Yellowthroat 21. Alder Flycatcher (v) 22. Cedar Waxwing 23. Field Sparrow (v) 24. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 25. Yellow Warbler 26. House Wren 27. Eastern Bluebird 28. Savannah Sparrow (v) 29. Mourning Dove* 30. Eastern Phoebe 31. Song Sparrow 32. Chipping Sparrow 33. Northern Parula (v) 34. Brown Creeper (v)
Elsewhere
35. Northern Cardinal (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Today I spied (or heard) four species. Other days I’ve had six—or none. They have (vastly or subtly) different calls, different drumming habits, slightly different habitats. IDs can be tricky without visual (or, in the case of downies and hairies, even with a visual).
I like the challenge. I love the drumming. Essentially, I’m infatuated with woodpeckers.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:12 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 3. Common Yellowthroat 4. Ovenbird** (v) 5. American Goldfinch** 6. Blue Jay 7. Tufted Titmouse (v) 8. American Robin 9. Downy Woodpecker (v) 10. Black-capped Chickadee 11. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 12. Eastern Towhee 13. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 14. American Redstart (v) 15. Brown Creeper (v) 16. Eastern Wood-pewee 17. Hermit Thrush 18. Northern Flicker 19. Gray Catbird 20. Alder Flycatcher (v) 21. Field Sparrow 22. Cedar Waxwing 23. Song Sparrow** 24. Yellow Warbler 25. Eastern Phoebe 26. Purple Finch (v) 27. Savannah Sparrow 28. Prairie Warbler (v) 29. Black-billed Cuckoo (v) 30. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 31. House Wren 32. Common Raven (v) 33. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 34. Chipping Sparrow 35. Yellow-bellied sapsucker (v) 36. Veery (v)
Elsewhere
37. Northern Cardinal (v) 38. Mourning Dove 39. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Had a lovely hike with dog this morning. Coolish, a slight breeze, bright sun above the shady early canopy. The most memorable moment came early, when a Wood Thrush flitted up onto a branch directly in front of us. I froze. Jack froze. I took a bunch of photos in the dim light, hoping one or two would come out OK.
(Wood Thrushes are a shy breed, in my experience, so I felt rather blessed.)
