And summer came, and Nature held a party. There were shenanigans, there were quarrels, there was music, there was magic.
The air was cool and the sky near cloudless when dog and I started up the trail. Little wind, lots of birdsong. Notable was the syncopated drumming of a sapsucker, the subtle notes of a hummingbird (first in a while), and just the number and variety of species. I believe today’s count was the second-highest yet since our return to the Maine coast.
Eastern Coyote.
But the height of excitement came as we were strolling slowly down the open main Beech Hill trail when an Eastern Coyote emerged from the profuse shrubbery and crossed the trail not ten or twelve yards ahead of us. I imagined she was a female, perhaps having stashed her pups in that greenery, but she didn’t move overly fast—more like a slow lope. And then she stopped and cast a glance behind her.
Thank you, goddess of summer.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:27 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Song Sparrow** 2. Ovenbird** 3. Red-eyed Vireo** 4. Downy Woodpecker 5. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 6. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming) 7. American Goldfinch 8. Veery 9. Gray Catbird 10. Pileated Woodpecker 11. Hairy Woodpecker 12. American Redstart** (v) 13. American Crow* 14. Chestnut-sided Warbler 15. Northern Cardinal** (v) 16. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 17. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (v) 18. Black-capped Chickadee 19. Eastern Towhee 20. Alder Flycatcher 21. Red-breasted Nuthatch 22. Common Yellowthroat 23. Yellow Warbler (v) 24. Field Sparrow 25. American Robin 26. Eastern Bluebird 27. Cedar Waxwing 28. House Wren 29. Eastern Phoebe 30. Chipping Sparrow (v) 31. Hermit Thrush (v) 32. Turkey Vulture 33. Prairie Warbler (v) 34. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 35. Tufted Titmouse (v) 36. Pine Warbler 37. Eastern Wood-pewee 38. Brown Creeper (v)
Elsewhere
39. Mallard 40. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Eastern Coyote
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
Another chilly, gusty morning—but this time with a bright blue sky above my dog and me. Also birds. Many more birds (and species) than the past two mornings.
Most notable was the flush of a couple (or three?) American Woodcock on our way up the wooded trail just below the summit. I suspect a traveling family. And another family—phoebe fledglings—not far below that same area on our return trip.
Couldn’t get a photo of a calling Pileated Woodpecker near the end of our early hike—but I did get a pretty nice pic of a Song Sparrow.
Tomorrow, summer!
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:22 a.m., I hiked most trails.
Light rain this morning, so a little later hike for dog and me. Chilly temps (low-50s) and wet trails and a post-rain wind—a wind blowing clouds from the west, revealing blue skies above the hills.
As expected in such weather, fewer species than in recent days. But a good selection even so. And nice conversations on the summit.
Notably, though, more towhees calling and singing and flitting around. Nestlings? Near-fledglings?
Summer fast approacheth.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 9:16 a.m., I hiked most trails.
1. Red-eyed vireo** (v) 2. Song Sparrow** (v) 3. Ovenbird 4. Black-throated Green Warbler (v) 5. Eastern Towhee 6. Gray Catbird 7. Black-capped Chickadee (v) 8. American Goldfinch 9. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v) 10. Common Yellowthroat 11. Black-and-white Warbler (v) 12. Hermit Thrush (v) 13. Alder Flycatcher (v) 14. American Crow* 15. Yellow Warbler (v) 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v) 17. House Wren 18. Cedar Waxwing 19. American Redstart 20. Eastern Phoebe (v)
Elsewhere
21. Mallard
Mammals
Eastern Chipmunk
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
