24 March 2023

Posts Tagged ‘northern flicker’

Spring Things

Tuesday, March 21st, 2023
American Robin in the woods, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 21 March 2023.
American Robin in the woods.

A mostly sunny morning, calm, about freezing. First full day of spring.

I kept my ear and eye out for spring things today as dog and I headed up the wooded trail. Singers included chickadees and titmice and cardinals and Brown Creepers. Fourteen species total on the hill—but the most noteworthy bird for me today was elsewhere.

In a residential area near Clam Cove after our hike, I happened to hear a singing Song Sparrow, a first of year for me. This sparrow is a favorite, evocative of spring generally, especially when it first returns from away.

Just listening to that sparrow’s song lifted my mood, affirmed my optimism, and improved my general outlook on the world—at least for this one day.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 6:48 a.m. (7:48 stupid DST), I hiked all trails.

1. American Goldfinch (v)
2. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
3. Northern Cardinal** (v)
4. American Crow*
5. Black-capped Chickadee**
6. Downy Woodpecker (drumming)
7. White-breasted Nuthatch
8. Brown Creeper
9. American Robin
10. Northern Flicker
11. Dark-eyed Junco
12. Yellow-rumped Warbler
13. Eastern Bluebird
14. Blue Jay

Elsewhere

15. Mourning Dove
16. Song Sparrow (v)†
17. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
18. Herring Gull

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

†First-of-year

Snow Day

Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
Mallard in the snow, Rockport, Maine, 02 March 2023.
Mallard in the snow.

The forecast was for a chance of snow showers most of today, so I wore my big winter coat despite temperatures of just above freezing. And snow it did. A good few inches of wet, wind-blown snow. Captain Jack and I ended up sopping wet at the end of our fun, quiet, snowy hike.

Few birds on the hill—saw a dozen robins, three other species—but a little gang of Mallards showed up at home after our return. Thus today’s photo.

Snowed for most of the day, making for slow traffic, an accident or two on the roads, and just an interesting winter’s spate of errands. But the sun’s supposed to emerge tomorrow, so likely a different bird situation.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:38 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. American Crow* (v)
2. Northern Flicker (v)
3. American Robin
4. American Goldfinch (v)

Elsewhere

5. Mallard
6. Herring Gull
7. Rock Pigeon
8. Bald Eagle

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

†First-of-year

Winter Warbler

Friday, February 17th, 2023
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 17 February 2023.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Maybe every other day this winter, on my Beech Hill hikes with dog, I’ve seen (or heard) Yellow-rumped Warblers. I knew they were a hardy species, and I’ve seen ’em in up there in winter before, but I figured it was an uncommon thing. Not this winter, though.

This gray morning (with precipitation on the way), I saw more ’rumps than I think I have since spring—at least a dozen. And, as usual lately, they were hanging around with bluebirds.

The temp’s supposed to dip tonight (has been thawy for the past few days), but there’s supposed to be light winds and sun. Will there also be bluebirds?

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:03 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
2. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
3. Tufted Titmouse (v)
4. American Crow*
5. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)
6. American Robin (v)
7. Blue Jay (v)
8. Herring Gull
9. Northern Flicker (v)
`10. American Goldfinch
11. Eastern Bluebird
12. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Elsewhere

13. 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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