Despite the drippy, overcast conditions, this morning had plenty of bird species—and also a couple of mammals. Not so many mammals on my Maine lists as on my Utah lists, but considering these leafy, wooded conditions compared to the wide open spaces out west, it kind of figures.
Still, it was kind of a thrill to accidentally sneak up on a browsing White-tailed Deer—and, just a few minutes later, surprise a Snowshoe Hare.
Bird-wise, too, fruitful. We’re coming upon the fruitful time of year.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:13 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Ovenbird** (v) 3. Eastern Phoebe* 4. Song Sparrow** 5. Common Yellowthroat (v) 6. American Crow* 7. Northern Cardinal** (v) 8. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 9. Veery 10. American Goldfinch 11. American Redstart** 12. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 13. Gray Catbird 14. Pileated Woodpecker (v) 15. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 17. Alder Flycatcher 18. Blue Jay (v) 19. Tufted Titmouse 20. Eastern Towhee 21. Field Sparrow (v) 22. Yellow Warbler 23. American Robin 24. Turkey Vulture 25. Prairie Warbler (v) 26. House Wren 27. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 28. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 29. Broad-winged Hawk 30. Nashville Warbler (v) 31. Herring Gull* 32. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
Elsewhere
33. Mallard
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Another morning much like yesterday’s—although we hiked earlier, and the temperature was slightly higher, and the fog was quite a bit thicker. (Not as drippy, though.) And my list has the most bird species of any after my return to Maine.
The only first-of-year species was a Winter Wren I heard down along the wooded trail (where I used to hear a few).
But for some reason, this one involved focus on two vireo species: red-eyed and blue-headed. They both sang a lot, both posed for (dim, grainy-ish) photos. And I realized—even thinking back to a couple species in Utah—how much I dig vireos.
Might be a few thundershowers tonight, and then a sunnier day tomorrow.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 8:49 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 2. Chestnut-sided Warbler 3. Red-eyed Vireo** 4. Ovenbird 5. Northern Parula** 6. Common Yellowthroat 7. Gray Catbird** 8. Northern Flicker (v) 9. Song Sparrow 10. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 11. Eastern Wood-pewee 12. Veery 13. Tufted Titmouse** (v) 14. Northern Cardinal** (v) 15. American Crow* (v) 16. Hairy Woodpecker 17. Black-and-white Warbler 18. Wood Thrush (v) 19. American Redstart* (v) 20. Eastern Bluebird 21. Blue-headed Vireo 22. Winter Wren† (v) 23. Alder Flycatcher (v) 24. Yellow Warbler 25. Eastern Towhee 26. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 27. American Goldfinch** (v) 28. Prairie Warbler (v) 29. Field Sparrow 30. Black-capped Chickadee* 31. Chipping Sparrow** 32. Common Raven (v) 33. American Robin 34. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 35. Eastern Phoebe* 36. Blue Jay (v) 37. Common Loon 38 Nashville Warbler (v) 39. Tree Swallow 40. Ruffed Grouse (booming)
