30 March 2023

Posts Tagged ‘eastern chipmunk’

Wind & Fog

Saturday, November 12th, 2022
Crow on a foggy morn, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 12 November 2022.
Crow on a foggy morn.

Wind and rain overnight became wind and fog this early morning. Good news for dog and me: We could hike at our usual time without getting too soaking wet.

A thick fog, and a strong blow. Few birds were interested in coming out in it—only six species today—but we were the only ones on the hill this morning, and we hiked all the usual trails. And I only found one tick on Jack (and none on me).

Besides, it was a thrill: the roaring wind, the low visibility, fallen branches (and one small tree) in the trail, a general sense of uncertainty. Heightened senses.

More rain came after we returned home, and later, the sun came out. What a Saturday. Both of us loved this day.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:29 a.m., I hiked all trails (and then some).

1. American Crow*
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. Blue Jay (v)
4. Northern Flicker
5. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
6. American Goldfinch (v)

Elsewhere

7. Northern Cardinal (v)
8. Tufted Titmouse (v)
9. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
10. Wild Turkey
11. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)

Mammals

Eastern Chipmunk

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

†First-of-year

Drama in the Blue

Thursday, November 3rd, 2022
Northern Harrier, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 03 November 2022.
Northern Harrier.
Cooper’s Hawk and raven, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 03 November 2022.
Cooper’s Hawk and raven.

The temperature had barely warmed into the 40s (F) by the time dog and I hit the hill this morning. A blue, blue sky, not much of a breeze, not a lot of bird sounds early on. But as we neared the summit, things began to get interesting.

En route up there I heard (then got a glimpse of) a flock of south-bound geese. Had a hermit thrush and a couple of woodpeckers. And that’s about the time a Northern Harrier appeared. The marsh hawk was (as is their habit) floating low above the barrens, seeking out a mouse or vole. And then I heard the guttural croak of a raven—the kind that almost sounds like the bubbling up of a deep gooey liquid.

Spied the raven, which was flying west above the hill. A Cooper’s Hawk appeared, and the two circled each other suspiciously. Then the harrier rose up to join the party, and all three birds circled and veered and dove and tried to avoid each other. Down here on terra firma, I couldn’t’ve been more excited at this display.

Twenty species today. Who’d’ve thunk it in the month of November?

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:09 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. American Crow*
2. Hermit Thrush
3. American Goldfinch
4. Black-capped Chickadee
5. Canada Goose
6. Hairy Woodpecker
7. Northern Flicker (v)
8. American Robin**
9. Yellow-rumped Warbler
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch
11. Downy Woodpecker
12. Dark-eyed Junco
13. Eastern Bluebird
14. Northern Harrier
15. Song Sparrow
16. Blue Jay (v)
17. Common Raven
18. Cooper’s Hawk
19. White-throated Sparrow
20. Brown Creeper (v)

Elsewhere

21. Wild Turkey

Mammals

Eastern Chipmunk
American Red Squirrel

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

†First-of-year

Fox Sparrows

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022
Fox Sparrow, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 02 November 2022.
Fox Sparrow.

Dawn this morning came little later than yesterday, and much brighter. Nearly cloudless, with angular sun spreading through the now-mostly-ochre wooded Beech Hill trails. Didn’t know what to expect, bird-wise.

And had a couple nice surprises. Most exciting: a pair of Fox Sparrows that appeared just about where I’d last seen some several years ago (but in spring). Recognized ’em right away.

Also had a bunch of thrushes—robins and bluebirds—a random gull, and three woodpecker species.

It was a quick hike (had an early appointment) but a very satisfying one.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:02 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Purple Finch (v)
2. American Robin
3. American Crow*
4. American Goldfinch (v)
5. Brown Creeper (v)
6. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
7. Yellow-rumped Warbler
8. Tufted Titmouse
9. Herring Gull*
10. Fox Sparrow†
11. Downy Woodpecker
12. Eastern Bluebird
13. White-throated Sparrow (v)
14. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
15. Blue Jay** (v)
16. Northern Flicker (v)

Elsewhere

17. Northern Cardinal
18. House Sparrow (v)
19. Ring-billed Gull

Mammals

Eastern Chipmunk
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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