9 February 2025

Posts Tagged ‘eastern bluebird’

Hark, a Lark

Saturday, September 23rd, 2023
Horned Lark (immature male), Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 23 September 2023.
Horned Lark (immature male)

This first day of autumn brought a morning much like yesterday’s: sunny, cool, and fragrant. It also brought a surprising bird species: a Horned Lark. They’re not rare on the hill, but they typically come in small flocks. I rarely see just one, as I did today. An immature male, the bird was poking around the edges of the main trail—and at one point got very near to dog and me as we stood still, and I took photos.

Another oddball was a Nashville Warbler (haven’t seen any since spring, and few then), adult and juvie Hermit Thrush, and a bunch of the usual suspects.

All in all, a fun one.

Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:24 a.m. EST (8:24 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Brown Creeper (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. Blue Jay (v)
4. Downy Woodpecker (v)
5. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
6. White-breasted Nuthatch**
7. Tufted Titmouse (v)
8. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
9. White-throated Sparrow (v)
10. Nashville Warbler
11. Hermit Thrush
12. Gray Catbird
13. Purple Finch (v)
14. Eastern Towhee (v)
15. American Goldfinch (v)
16. Horned Lark
17. Song Sparrow
18. Yellow-rumped Warbler
19. Eastern Bluebird
20. American Crow* (v)

Elsewhere

21. Northern Cardinal
22. Herring Gull
23. Belted Kingfisher (v)
24. Canada Goose (v)

Mammals

Eastern Chipmunk (v)

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

†First-of-year

Sad

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023
Black-and-white Warbler (deceased), Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 20 September 2023.
Black-and-white Warbler (deceased).
Bald Eagle (immature), Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 20 September 2023.
Bald Eagle (immature).

Two Beech Hill hikes today: a quick, early one with Jack-my-dog, and a later, longer one with a group of curious kids on a middle school field trip. Both were fun.

Ten species early and another six later—the latter ones being most interesting (including an eagle accompanied by hawks). Alas, the last bird on my list was deceased: a dead Black-and-white Warbler I found lying along the trail near the summit. My guess is the bird flew into a window of the hut and managed to flutter across the lawn a ways before succumbing to its injuries. Whatever the case, it’s always sad to find a dead bird.

Migration is risky no matter who you are, and some migrants don’t make it to their destinations. I tossed the little warbler into a soft, shady patch of grass.

Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:30 a.m. EST (8:30 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Blue Jay** (v)
2. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
3. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
4. Hermit Thrush (v)
5. Brown Creeper (v)
6. Gray Catbird
7. Yellow-rumped Warbler
8. American Goldfinch
9. Black-capped Chickadee
10. Eastern Bluebird
11. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
12. Turkey Vulture*
13. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
14. Red-shouldered Hawk
15. American Crow*
16. Bald Eagle
17. Black-and-white Warbler (deceased)

Elsewhere

18. Carolina Wren (v)
19. House Sparrow
20. Herring Gull

Mammals

Eastern Gray Squirrel
House Sparrow

Reptiles

Eastern Garter Snake

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

†First-of-year

Breezy

Tuesday, September 19th, 2023
Eastern Bluebird, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 19 September 2023.
Eastern Bluebird.

Cool and overcast to start soon became bright and breezy. An interesting array of bird species—three ravens, a flushed woodcock, bluebirds in the woodlands—and plenty of humans (and a couple of dogs) out enjoying the change in the weather.

Common Raven, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 19 September 2023.
Common Raven.

Got no complaints about Nature’s offerings this fine day. And tomorrow I help with a middle school hike. Fun!

Beech Hill List
Starting at 7:30 a.m. EST (8:30 DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
3. Common Raven
4. Song Sparrow
5. Turkey Vulture*
6. Blue Jay**
7. American Crow* (v)
8. Northern Flicker (v)
9. Gray Catbird (v)
10. Hermit Thrush
11. Eastern Towhee (v)
12. Eastern Bluebird
13. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
14. American Woodcock
15. American Robin
16. Eastern Wood-pewee (v)
17. Herring Gull*

Elsewhere

18. Carolina Wren (v)
19. Mourning Dove
20. Northern Cardinal (v)

(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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