Warmish (30s (F)), calm, and mostly clear as dog and I headed up to the wooded trailhead. Although I typically try not to, this morning I had expectations. Expectations because of the calmness, the clearness, the warmish temperatures. I figured we’d see bluebirds, at least.
And I did see bluebirds—later in our hike‚—but not before I saw the most noteworthy species: a lone Hermit Thrush as we were returning up the manicured main trail. Thought it was a sparrow at first so was rather surprised and thrilled to see it. Watched as it left the trail briefly to grab (and swallow) a good-sized caterpillar. Took a few photos before slowly beginning to walk again. Of course it would fly away.
Another nice surprise was a Pileated Woodpecker I happened to spy taking off as we descended back toward the truck. Never got a look at it again.
Supposed to rain overnight. We shall see what Monday morning brings.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:41 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Black-capped Chickadee 2. Tufted Titmouse (v) 3. Hairy Woodpecker 4. American Crow* (v) 5. American Robin 6. American Goldfinch (v) 7. Brown Creeper (v) 8. Purple Finch (v) 9. Northern Flicker 10. Yellow-rumped Warbler 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch 12. Pine Siskin (v) 13. Eastern Bluebird 14. Hermit Thrush 15. Pileated Woodpecker 16. White-breasted Nuthatch**
Mammals
American Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Freezing this morning. Literally: 32° (F). Bundled up, donned our blaze orange accessories, and dog and I hit the hill at about the regular time. Quite a few bird species around—more than the past couple days—and some rather exciting moments, too.
Most notable was my spying a Ruffed Grouse before the bird took off. (I can count on one hand the number of times that’s happened in my 40 years in Maine.) Also, a whole truckload of bluebirds showed up.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:14 a.m. (EST), I hiked all trails.
1. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 2. Black-capped Chickadee 3. Hairy Woodpecker 4. American Robin (v) 5. American Crow 6. Eastern Bluebird 7. Purple Finch (v) 8. Brown Creeper (v) 9. Hermit Thrush 10. Ruffed Grouse 11. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 12. American Goldfinch 13. Pine Siskin (v) 14. Yellow-rumped Warbler 15. White-throated Sparrow (v)
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
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
