Today I traveled with Captain Jack (who, ironically, hates boats) from Port Clyde, Maine, to Monhegan Island for a few days of birding. Since we’ll be busy wandering and visiting, I’ll just be posting a daily list and a photo or two until our return. It’s been I believe five years, and I missed this place. (Woo-hoo!)
Port Clyde to Monhegan List
1. Herring Gull 2. Broad-winged Hawk 3. Double-crested Cormorant 4. Belted Kingfisher 5. Common Loon 6. Northern Flicker 7. Blue Jay 8. Mallard 9. Red-eyed Vireo 10. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 11. Golden-crowned Kinglet 12. White-throated Sparrow 13. Dark-eyed Junco 14. Yellow Warbler 15. Gray Catbird 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch 17. Ring-necked Pheasant 18. Great Cormorant 19. Merlin 20. Peregrine Falcon 21. Cape May Warbler 22. Yellow-rumped Warbler 23. Blackpoll Warbler 24. Black-throated Green Warbler 25. Dickcissel 26. Song Sparrow 27. American Goldfinch 28. American Robin 29. Mourning Dove 30. Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sunny and cool this morning, but warming pretty fast. Birds were active, but acting a little peculiarly—a little quieter, a little nervous, flitting about—which I attribute to early migratory urges. Then, as we approached the summit, I heard human voices up there. Turned out this was “Thrill of the Hill” race day.
A bunch of folks of all ages showed up for this annual fun(d)raiser—which was a real gas to observe.
Also fun to grab a decent photo of an Alder Flycatcher—usually shy to pose.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:10 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Red-eyed Vireo 2. Ovenbird 3. Northern Cardinal** (v) 4. American Crow* (v) 5. American Goldfinch 6. Gray Catbird 7. Eastern Wood-pewee 8. American Robin 9. Black-capped Chickadee 10. Common Loon (V) 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Red-bellied Woodpecker 13. Eastern Towhee 14. Common Yellowthroat 15. Black-and-white Warbler 16. Yellow Warbler 17. Cedar Waxwing 18. Alder Flycatcher 19. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 20. Song Sparrow** 21. Yellow-rumped Warbler 22. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 23. Barn Swallow 24. Hairy Woodpecker (v) 25. Tufted Titmouse (v) 26. Hermit Thrush
Elsewhere
27. Carolina Wren (v) 28. Mourning Dove 29. Rock Pigeon 30. Herring Gull
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
