30 March 2023

Posts Tagged ‘American red squirrel’

Thick Spring Fog

Thursday, March 23rd, 2023
Pileated Woodpecker (female), Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 23 March 2023.
Pileated Woodpecker (female) on a foggy morn.

Was supposed to rain lightly today, but dog and I awoke to a foggy morning. And it remained foggy—a thick fog, a calm atmosphere—throughout our two-hour hike up the hill.

Didn’t expect much in the way of photos—and wasn’t sure of bird numbers, either—but was pleasantly surprised in both cases. Had thirteen species, and a few half-way-decent photos, a first-of-year kinglet, and a decent pic of a female Pileated Woodpecker.

Pretty sure we’re supposed to get a little sun tomorrow. Maybe we’ll even get another first-of-year bird.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6:58 a.m. (7:58 stupid DST), I hiked all trails.

1. American Robin
2. American Crow*
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
5. Blue Jay (v)
6. Herring Gull* (v)
7. Eastern Bluebird
8. Pileated Woodpecker
9. Ruby-crowned Kinglet†
10. Tufted Titmouse (v)
11. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
12. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
13. Red-winged Blackbird (v)

Elsewhere

14. European Starling (v)
15. Mallard
16. Rock Pigeon

Mammals

American Red Squirrel

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

†First-of-year

Light Snow

Tuesday, February 14th, 2023
American Crow, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 14 February 2023.
Portrait of American Crow.

Was supposed to snow a little bit overnight, and it did—but kept on snowing a little bit during my morning hike with dog.

Hardly any snow, really, and not real cold temperatures, and very little wind. And despite the (mostly) overcast skies, I spied quite a few birds today. Mostly the same winter suspects, but several posed for pics—including a crow that seemed to want it’s portrait taken.

Bluebirds still, and yellow-rumps. This is the first season I’ve been able to confirm (repeatedly) that these two species love to hang out together.

I wonder how early the bluebirds will nest this year.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:10 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. White-breasted Nuthatch**
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
5. American Goldfinch (v)
4. American Crow* (v)
5. American Robin
6. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
7. Herring Gull (v)
8. Eastern Bluebird
9. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Mammals

10. Mallard
11. Wild Turkey

Mammals

American Red Squirrel (v)

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

†First-of-year

Hints of Spring

Sunday, February 12th, 2023

Sub-freezing early, but the sun rose over the bay into a clear sky, and there wasn’t much wind. Birds around at home—and a feeling that there’d be more on the hill.

And there were: a couple woodpecker species, a couple thrush species, a couple tits, and more. Plus—unlike yesterday—several posed for photos.

Tomorrow should be similar. I’m excited about my morning hike with dog.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:55 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Tufted Titmouse**
2. White-breasted Nuthatch**
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. Downy Woodpecker
5. Eastern Bluebird
6. American Crow*
7. American Robin (v)
8. American Goldfinch
9. Hairy Woodpecker
10. Common Raven (v)

Elsewhere

11. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)

Mammals

Eastern Gray Squirrel
American Red Squirrel

(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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