30 May 2023

Posts Tagged ‘American cdrow’

Spring Things

Tuesday, March 21st, 2023
American Robin in the woods, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 21 March 2023.
American Robin in the woods.

A mostly sunny morning, calm, about freezing. First full day of spring.

I kept my ear and eye out for spring things today as dog and I headed up the wooded trail. Singers included chickadees and titmice and cardinals and Brown Creepers. Fourteen species total on the hill—but the most noteworthy bird for me today was elsewhere.

In a residential area near Clam Cove after our hike, I happened to hear a singing Song Sparrow, a first of year for me. This sparrow is a favorite, evocative of spring generally, especially when it first returns from away.

Just listening to that sparrow’s song lifted my mood, affirmed my optimism, and improved my general outlook on the world—at least for this one day.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6:48 a.m. (7:48 stupid DST), I hiked all trails.

1. American Goldfinch (v)
2. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
3. Northern Cardinal** (v)
4. American Crow*
5. Black-capped Chickadee**
6. Downy Woodpecker (drumming)
7. White-breasted Nuthatch
8. Brown Creeper
9. American Robin
10. Northern Flicker
11. Dark-eyed Junco
12. Yellow-rumped Warbler
13. Eastern Bluebird
14. Blue Jay

Elsewhere

15. Mourning Dove
16. Song Sparrow (v)†
17. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
18. Herring Gull

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

†First-of-year

Another Bluebird Day

Sunday, March 12th, 2023
Eastern Bluebird, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 12 March 2023.
Eastern Bluebird.

Spring’s definitely a-comin’—albeit after another winter storm or two. Next Tuesday, for instance, we’re supposed to get between six and twelve inches of snow. Meanwhile, though, we get a day like today: nearly cloudless, just above freezing, a little thawy, moderate breezes, and with a Ruffed Grouse flushed along the trail.

I thought I should see at least one bluebird on my hike with dog this morning. And I did see one. Blue sky, modernately favorable atmospheric conditions—and you can generally depend don a bluebird.

(Most notable sighting this morning, though, was the flushed grouse.)

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:31 a.m. (8:31 stupid DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Tufted Titmouse (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. American Crow*
4. Ruffed Grouse
5. American Goldfinch (v)
6. Blue Jay (v)
7. American Robin
8. Eastern Bluebird

Elsewhere

9. Herring Gull
10. Mourning Dove

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

†First-of-year

Fun in Fog

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022
Hermit Thrush fledgling, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 22 June 2022.
Hermit Thrush fledgling.

Cool and overcast at the start of our hike, and humid, with very little wind. Thick fog and drippy at the summit of the hill, with low visibility. But never mind the weather—a lot going on out there.

For one thing, fledglings. I could hear them calling from their hiding places in the thick summer foliage. And I spied several adults with beaks crammed with food. I even spotted a few fledglings—Hermit Thrushes staying still, Hairy Woodpeckers begging from their mom.

Short-tailed Weasel, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 22 June 2022.
Short-tailed Weasel.

Another exceptional moment: a Short-tailed Weasel bounding along the trail toward dog and me, pulling up short, then dashing off into the shrubbery again. Returning, seeing us, dashing off. Returning a third time.

(Never saw it after the third time, but did manage to grab a quick photo.)

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v)
2. Song Sparrow
3. Black-throated Green Warbler (v)
4. Ovenbird**
5. American Redstart**
6. Veery
7. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
8. Northern Cardinal** (v)
9. Eastern Towhee
10. Gray Catbird
11. Chestnut-sided Warbler
12. American Goldfinch
13. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
14. American Crow* (v)
15. Black-capped Chickadee
16. Northern Flicker
17. American Woodcock
18. Common Yellowthroat
19. Alder Flycatcher
20. Yellow Warbler
21. Northern Parula (v)
22. House Wren (v)
23. American Robin (v)
24. Black-billed Cuckoo (v)
25. Scarlet Tanager (v)
26. Hairy Woodpecker
27. Downy Woodpecker
28. Eastern Wood-pewee
29. Eastern Phoebe

Elsewhere

30. Wild Turkey

Mammals

Short-tailed Weasel

(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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