Today I traveled with Captain Jack (who, ironically, hates boats) from Port Clyde, Maine, to Monhegan Island for a few days of birding. Since we’ll be busy wandering and visiting, I’ll just be posting a daily list and a photo or two until our return. It’s been I believe five years, and I missed this place. (Woo-hoo!)
Port Clyde to Monhegan List
1. Herring Gull 2. Broad-winged Hawk 3. Double-crested Cormorant 4. Belted Kingfisher 5. Common Loon 6. Northern Flicker 7. Blue Jay 8. Mallard 9. Red-eyed Vireo 10. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 11. Golden-crowned Kinglet 12. White-throated Sparrow 13. Dark-eyed Junco 14. Yellow Warbler 15. Gray Catbird 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch 17. Ring-necked Pheasant 18. Great Cormorant 19. Merlin 20. Peregrine Falcon 21. Cape May Warbler 22. Yellow-rumped Warbler 23. Blackpoll Warbler 24. Black-throated Green Warbler 25. Dickcissel 26. Song Sparrow 27. American Goldfinch 28. American Robin 29. Mourning Dove 30. Sharp-shinned Hawk
This day was sunny and breeezy—a stout wind whipping our way from the west-northwest. I wasn’t sure what to expect, bird-wise (as is usually the case), but right away, I saw a White-crowned Sparrow. I only see that species on the hill during migration, so that was fun.
A Song Sparrow joined the white-crowned after a little while.
Down on the wooded trails, ticks are still lurking. Few bird species—but I did hear a vireo and a flicker. (The wind in the canopy dampened the voices of birds.)
Returning down the main trail, we encountered a handsome White-throated Sparrow. Nice. And tomorrow we venture to Monhegan Island. In high seas, apparently, thanks to a hurricane (thankfully far) offshore.
Will keep you posted.
Beech Hill List Beginning at 7:29 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Crow* 2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v) 3. White-crowned Sparrow 4. Common Yellowthroat (v) 5. Song Sparrow 6. Yellow-rumped Warbler 7. Blue Jay 8. Eastern Towhee (v) 9. Northern Flicker (v) 10. Sharp-shinned Hawk 11. American Goldfinch 12. Black-capped Chickadee 13. White-throated Sparrow 14. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
Elsewhere
15. Northern Cardinal 16. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
American Red Squirrel Eastern Gray Squirrel
(v) Voice only *Also elsewhere **Voice only elsewhere †First-of-year
