29 May 2023

Posts Tagged ‘red crossbill’

Wilder Turkeys

Thursday, March 9th, 2023
Wild Turkey flyover, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine,
Wild Turkey flyover.

Above freezing this morning, and the sun emerged a time or two, and the sky was super lovely—mostly cloudy but patches of blue and rays of sunshine—but with a little wind. Still, birds showed up, seemingly itchin’ for spring.

Despite the wind and clouds, I spied a bluebird. And a dozen robins down by the road. The usual crows and chickadees and titmice; the unusual Pileated Woodpecker and Red Crossbill. And down in the woods, I heard a sound, glanced up into the trees, and saw a turkey flying over. In fact, at least a half-dozen turkeys had taken wing.

Wild Turkeys aren’t uncommon around here at all, but these turkeys were particularly wild.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:42 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. American Robin
2. American Crow*
3. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
4. Eastern Bluebird
5. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
6. American Goldfinch** (v)
7. Hairy Woodpecker
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Red Crossbill
10. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
11. Wild Turkey

Elsewhere

12. Herring Gull
13. Northern Cardinal
14. Rock Pigeon
15. Mallard
16. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)

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

†First-of-year

Winter Warbler

Tuesday, February 7th, 2023
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 07 February 2023.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.

The day dawned cloudless (aside from some warm water clouds above the bay) and pretty chilly (teens (F)), and a little breezy. Didn’t really know what to expect this wintry-feeling morning.

What we got, dog and I, turned out to be pretty fun: good hike, good birds, frigid fingers (me), bites of icy snow (Jack), a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Yellow-rumps have been wintering over, apparently. They like to hang out with bluebirds—also fairly recent winter residents. This particular winter, I’ve seen more of both species than I ever did before my little sabbatical in Utah. It’s been kind of fun, having a winter warbler to look for. Just a few years ago, I wouldn’t have thought it possible.

But ’rumps are hardy birds. And there’re plenty of Northern Bayberry for them to munch on. I wonder what benefits they and the bluebirds get from intermingling.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:19 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Tufted Titmouse (v)
2. American Goldfinch (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. Red Crossbill (v)
5. American Crow*
6. Red-breasted Nuthatch (v)
7. Eastern Bluebird
8. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Elsewhere

9. Herring Gull (v)

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

†First-of-year

Crossbills, Etc.

Monday, February 6th, 2023
Red Crossbills (fem), Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 06 February 2023.
Red Crossbills (fem).
Red Crossbill (male), Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 06 February 2023.
Red Crossbill (male).

A much warmer morning. Didn’t bother with my winter coat. Not much wind. Overcast with a fine glow in the east above the bay.

Right away birds made their presences known. Many robins again, titmice and crows and chickadees. Kept looking at the lovely sky, being careful of ice yet underfoot. Woodpecker, goldfinch. nuthatch.

Returning from the woods, I spied a large flock of small birds headed for the summit spruce grove. Crossbills?

My camera confirmed the ID.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:19 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. White-breasted Nuthatch**
2. American Crow* (v)
3. Tufted Titmouse (v)
4. American Goldfinch (v)
5. American Robin
6. Black-capped Chickadee
7. Downy Woodpecker
8. Red Crossbill
9. Eastern Bluebird
10. Common Raven

(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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