A cool, cloudless morning. Dog and I arrived at the hill in time to hear the sounds of early bird species awakening—and, later, the music of later sleepers. A couple of oddballs (including a Song Sparrow that began its tune with two clear, ringing notes of differing pitches.
My favorite of the day, though, were the juvie bluebirds.
Beech Hill List Beinning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Red-eyed Vireo** (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 4. American Crow* 5. Black-capped Chickadee** (v) 6. Eastern Towhee 7. Song Sparrow 8. American Goldfinch 9. Chestnut-sided Warbler 10. Common Yellowthroat 11. Gray Catbird* 12. Eastern Phoebe* 13. Northern Flicker (v) 14. Ovenbird (v) 15. Field Sparrow (v) 16. Mourning Dove* (v) 17. Purple Finch (v) 18. Tufted Titmouse** 19. Cedar Waxwing 20. Eastern Bluebird 21. Blue Jay (v) 22. Chipping Sparrow* 23. Common Raven (v) 24. Yellow Warbler (v) 25. Northern Cardinal (v)
Each year is different. This one’s had way more mosquitos than usual—and also Chipping Sparrows. Don’t know how come the species has been reproducing like crazy, but these days it seems like every conifer you wander past has got some serious chatter of adult and fledglings.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:30 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 2. Tufted Titmouse (v) 3. Black-throated Green Warbler 4. Song Sparrow** 5. American Robin 6. Chestnut-sided Warbler** 7. Eastern Towhee 8. Common Yellowthroat** 9. Alder Flycatcher 10. Yellow Warbler (v) 11. Chimney Swift 12. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 13. Eastern Bluebird (v) 14. Field Sparrow (v) 15. Hermit Thrush (v) 16. Veery (v) 17. Chipping Sparrow* 18. Cedar Waxwing 19. American Goldfinch** (v) 20. American Crow* 21. Eastern Phoebe* 22. Gray Catbird* 23. Great Crested Flycatcher (v) 24. Blue Jay (v) 25. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
26. Herring Gull 27. Mourning Dove 28. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
I see finches nearly every day on the hill during high season. Goldfinches and Purple Finches, usually. Today I saw (or heard) both species. They sing familiar songs and have familiar personalities.
Today dog and I happened to be at the early summit when two male goldfinches decided to have a sort of duel. Or standoff. Or joust. Flitting and chattering and chasing each other around. On a cool, breezy, pre-heat wave morning, that’s about all a body can ask for.
I do have a soft spot for finches.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 6:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.Savann
1. Veery** (v) 2. Red-eyed Vireo (v) 3. Song Sparrow** 4. Chestnut-sided Warbler 5. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 6. Gray Catbird** 7. Chipping Sparrow* 8. Ovenbird (v) 9. Eastern Towhee 10. American Goldfinch** 11. Alder Flycatcher (v) 12. Tree Swallow 13. American Robin 14. Savannah Sparrow 15. Mourning Dove 16. American Crow 17. Common Yellowthroat 18. Northern Cardinal** (v) 19. Eastern Phoebe* 20. Northern Flicker (v) 21. Purple Finch (v) 22. Tufted Titmouse (v) 23. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 24. Downy Woodpecker (v) 25. Field Sparrow 26. Blue Jay (v) 27. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v) 28.Yellow Warbler (v) 29. Hairy Woodpecker 30. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
Elsewhere
32. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 33. Herring Gull
v = Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere
Bird Report is an intermittent record of what's outside my window in Rockport, Maine, USA (44°08'N latitude, 69°06'W longitude), and vicinity. —Brian Willson
