The forecast was for rain pretty much all day. Up early to check the weather radar, noting that, although it’d rained at some point overnight, it wasn’t raining now. Radar showed no rain for a couple hours—so right away dog and I hit the trail.
Quiet, as I’d expected. Cool, fresh air, dramatic sky, but few bird species. Still a lovely morning.
On our return, only about a hundred yards from the truck, I noticed a bunch of little birds poking about in a couple hardwoods above the trail. First one I spotted was a Northern Parula. And for the next maybe ten minutes, Jack waited patiently while I stood there snapping photos of birds. Added eight species to my list during those minutes.
Not long after our return home, it began to rain. All day, pretty much—and pretty hard at times. Supposed to continue off and on until morning.
Real good to have the rain.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:59 a.m., I hiked all trails.
An early hike after some heavy, soaking rain last evening. Wetness in the understory, a tiny bit of mud, clear skies, good birds—an auspicious time of it for dog and me.
Many, many towhees today. Adults and juveniles (the size of adults)
One noteworthy incident: While I angled to photograph a robin across a field, a hummingbird sped by within a foot of me at about 80 miles an hour—directly in front of me. I heard the hum, the hummer vanished, and a latter check of my GoPro footage caught the bird as it zipped by.
Another soaking of rain this late afternoon. Downpour, sun, downpour, sun. It’s how we do it on the coast of Maine.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:07 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. Blue Jay (v) 3. American Crow* 4. American Goldfinch** 5. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 6. Northern Cardinal* (v) 7. Cedar Waxwing 8. Black-capped Chickadee** 9. Eastern Wood-pewee 10. Hairy Woodpecker 11. White-breasted Nuthatch 12. Tufted Titmouse 13. Brown Creeper 14. Hermit Thrush 15. Black-and-white Warbler 16. Eastern Towhee 17. Song Sparrow** 18. Alder Flycatcher 19. Common Yellowthroat** 20. Yellow Warbler 21. Gray Catbird 22. House Wren (v) 23. Purple Finch (v) 24. Savannah Sparrow 25. American Robin 26. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 27. Field Sparrow 28. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 29. Eastern Phoebe 30. Northern Flicker
Elsewhere
30. Mourning Dove 31. Osprey (v) 32. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Yet another clear, warm, dry morning—one during which I had to wonder where all these mosquitoes came from? Not much breeze in the woodlands, and not too many bird species. Until the upper, open acreage, that is.
Noteworthy: spooked a woodcock, two ravens still hanging out in the inland blueberry patch—and a relatively cooperative Brown Creeper down by the parking lot.
There’ll be a blueberry pick tomorrow. Thinking I might blow off my preregistration and just let other folks play (while Jack and I hike, as usual).
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:27 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** 2. Northern Cardinal** 3. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 4. American Goldfinch** 5. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 6. American Crow* 7. Hermit Thrush 8. Eastern Wood-pewee (v) 9. Blue Jay (v) 10. Ovenbird (v) 11. American Robin 12. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 13. Northern Flicker 14. Eastern Towhee 15. Gray Catbird 16. Common Yellowthroat** 17. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 18. Cedar Waxwing 19. Alder Flycatcher (v) 20. Song Sparrow* 21. Yellow Warbler 22. Field Sparrow 23. House Wren (v) 24. Purple Finch 25. Common Raven 26. Red-breasted Nuthatch 27. Savannah Sparrow 28. Downy Woodpecker 29. Eastern Phoebe 30. American Woodcock 31. Veery (v) 32. Tufted Titmouse 33. Brown Creeper
Elsewhere
34. Mourning Dove
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
