6 April 2026

Snow Buntings again

October 27th, 2015
Snow Buntings, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 27 October 2015.

Snow Buntings.

The whole way up the Beech Hill trail this afternoon, I wondered—hoped, in fact—I’d find Snow Buntings for the third straight day. I kind of thought I would and even asked a couple descending if they’d seen any up there. They hadn’t.

Barren, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 27 October 2015.

Barren.

But they were there. We arrived with some others, and I broke off to circle the hut slowly, to check the disturbed ground, and there they were. Three of them again (although I only got photos of two together).

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Blue Jay* (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. American Crow*
4. Northern Flicker
5. Snow Bunting

Elsewhere

6. Northern Cardinal
7. Mourning Dove
8. Herring Gull
9. Rock Pigeon
10. Tufted Titmouse (v)

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

 

Ruddy, rusty, orange

October 26th, 2015
Mr Cardinal, Camden, Maine, 26 October 2015.

Mr Cardinal.

A flurry of activity on a clear, chilly day. Busy, busy. Then an hour at Beech Hill with dog.

Snow Bunting, Beech Hill preserve, Rockport, Maine, 26 October 2015.

Snow Bunting.

Today there were three buntings at the summit—a male and two females. They kept fluttering around the hut, returning to that attractive patch of disturbed ground. I love how their white-flashing, twittering flight. Maybe tomorrow there will be a dozen.

This morning I grabbed a photo of a cardinal out the window of my new place. The photo was all ruddy, rusty. orange—in keeping with the season.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Blue Jay*
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. American Crow*
4. Golden-crowned Kinglet (v)
5. Yellow-rumped Warbler
6. Snow Bunting
7. American Robin

Elsewhere

8. Northern Cardinal
9. Rock Pigeon
10. Herring Gull

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

 

Bunting

October 25th, 2015
Snow Bunting, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 25 October 2015.

Snow Bunting.

A little rain this morning—my first morning completely under a new roof. Had a fun visit for coffee with my new neighbors. After the rain let up, I helped some friends move a couch. Then I took a hike with Jack.

Only a few Beech Hill visitors when we arrived. A pair of kinglets flitted quickly and maddeningly through some trees near the parking lot, denying me photos. Still yellow-rumps about. And at the summit, a little flash of white wings: a solitary snow bunting poking around in the grass. Kind of a thrill sneaking up on the thing with dog in tow, and managing to get a half-way decent photo.

The clouds parted and the sun emerged as dog and I made our way back to the new home.

Seemed  a little early for Snow Buntings.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:15, I hiked the open trail.

1. Tufted titmouse* (v)
2. White-breasted Nuthatch* (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. American Crow*
5. Golden-crowned Kinglet
6. Yellow-rumped Warbler
7. Snow Bunting
8. Northern Flicker

Elsewhere

9. Blue Jay
10. Herring Gull
11. Mourning Dove
12. Mallard

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

 

 
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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