30 March 2023

Posts Tagged ‘merlin’

Woodland Birds

Thursday, November 10th, 2022
Brown Creeper, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 10 November 2022.
Brown Creeper.

Warmer this morning than a day ago, but with a healthy southwest wind. Did not know what to expect, bird-wise.

Not a lot of species to start (nor photo ops), although the highlight was likely the Merlin that we spooked at the summit and I could not photograph as it flapped swiftly away.

Had only a dozen spp. by the time we returned down the lower wooded trail. Did not expect more. But then I heard the voice of a Golden-crowned Kinglet, and spotted a few, and a Brown Creeper appeared. And, after that little pause to attempt actual bird pics, I heard a pair of bluebirds and watched a gull fly away above the canopy.

Clouds are supposed to gather tomorrow, with rain Friday night. Saturday we might get to hike in afternoon for a change.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:14 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. American Crow**
2. Tufted Titmouse
3. American Goldfinch**
4. Black-capped Chickadee
5. Blue Jay
6. Hairy Woodpecker
7. Downy Woodpecker (v)
8. Yellow-rumped Warbler
9. White-throated Sparrow (v)
10. Merlin
11. Purple Finch (v)
12. American Robin (v)
13. Golden-crowned Kinglet
14. Brown Creeper
15. Eastern Bluebird (v)
16. Herring Gull*

Elsewhere

17. Northern Cardinal (v)

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

†First-of-year

More Harrier Action

Saturday, November 5th, 2022
Northern Harrier, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 05 November 2022.
Northern Harrier.

Dog and I had a nice long hike today with our friends Joe and Amy—including a stretch of the Erickson Fields trail. Not a whole lot of birds, but enough to make things interesting.

Especially interesting was yet another harrier experience: crows mobbed the bird, which rose and dipped (as usual), and then a Merlin appeared and began zipping all over the place, chasing whatever it could. When the harrier finally decided to move on, the little falcon stuck around and began to dive bomb the crows. Was a lot of fun.

Final bird? A high-flying eagle that Joe spotted. Nice end to a nice hike with friends.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:59 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. American Crow*
2. American Robin
3. Hairy Woodpecker
4. Blue Jay**
5. Yellow-rumped Warbler
6. Tufted Titmouse**
7. Northern Cardinal
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Northern Flicker
10. Eastern Bluebird
11. American Goldfinch
12. Northern Harrier
13. Merlin
14. Herring Gull
15. Great Black-backed Gull
16. Common Raven
17. Bald Eagle

Elsewhere

18. Wild Turkey

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

†First-of-year

Return from the Island

Wednesday, September 28th, 2022
Raven on a rock, Monhegan Boat Line, 28 September 2022.
Raven on a rock.

Monhegan–to–Port Clyde List

1. Herring Gull
2. White-throated Sparrow
3. American Crow
4. Northern Flicker
5. Blue Jay
6. Red-breasted Nuthatch
7. European Starling
8. Double-crested Cormorant
9. Great Black-backed Gull
10. Yellow-rumped Warbler
11. Carolina Wren
12. Gray Catbird
13. American Robin
14. Northern Cardinal
15. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
16. Black-capped Chickadee
17. Golden-crowned Kinglet
18. Sharp-shinned Hawk
19. Cedar Waxwing
20. Downy Woodpecker
21. Brown Thrasher
22. Song Sparrow
23. Red-headed Woodpecker
24. Common Yellowthroat
25. Mallard
26. Purple Finch
27. Peregrine Falcon
28. Merlin
29. Belted Kingfisher
30. Northern Harrier
31. Common Grackle
32. Mourning Dove
33. Ring-necked Pheasant
34. Ring-billed Gull
35. Common Loon

 
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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