24 March 2023

Posts Tagged ‘ruffed grouse’

Another Bluebird Day

Sunday, March 12th, 2023
Eastern Bluebird, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 12 March 2023.
Eastern Bluebird.

Spring’s definitely a-comin’—albeit after another winter storm or two. Next Tuesday, for instance, we’re supposed to get between six and twelve inches of snow. Meanwhile, though, we get a day like today: nearly cloudless, just above freezing, a little thawy, moderate breezes, and with a Ruffed Grouse flushed along the trail.

I thought I should see at least one bluebird on my hike with dog this morning. And I did see one. Blue sky, modernately favorable atmospheric conditions—and you can generally depend don a bluebird.

(Most notable sighting this morning, though, was the flushed grouse.)

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:31 a.m. (8:31 stupid DST), I hiked all trails.

1. Tufted Titmouse (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. American Crow*
4. Ruffed Grouse
5. American Goldfinch (v)
6. Blue Jay (v)
7. American Robin
8. Eastern Bluebird

Elsewhere

9. Herring Gull
10. Mourning Dove

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

†First-of-year

Spring Signs

Saturday, February 18th, 2023
Downy Woodpecker (female), Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 18 February 2023.
Downy Woodpecker (female).

I knew it’d be nippy this morning (’cause I mostly believe the prognosticators), and it was. About 17° (F) when dog and I headed up to the wooded trailhead. But also a brilliant, earlier-rising sun, hardly any clouds, calm air—and more birds than I expected.

Most notable, creeping up through the woods, were the singing species: chickadee, titmouse, and Brown Creeper. (First singing creeper of the year.) It seemed like a bluebird day, but I wondered about the temperature—I needn’t have. Plenty of bluebirds on the hill. Also the usual tagalong yellow-rumps, and quite a few robins. Goldfinches, too.

And returning through the woods, I heard a drumming grouse—another sign that birds are confused by the warmer weather.

Good day, good dog, good hike. (Tomorrow could be similar, but warmer.)

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:14 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Tufted Titmouse (v)
2. American Robin
3. White-breasted Nuthatch**
4. Black-capped Chickadee**
5. Brown Creeper
6. American Crow*
7. American Goldfinch
8. Eastern Bluebird
9. Yellow-rumped Warbler
10. Ruffed Grouse (drumming)
11. Downy Woodpecker**

Elsewhere

12. Northern Cardinal (v)

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

†First-of-year

Fun Hike

Tuesday, December 13th, 2022
Yellow-rumped Warbler (on bluebird box), Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 13 December 2022.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (on bluebird box).

A morning similar to yesterday’s—low 20s (F), light winds—but nearly cloudless skies. Had few birds to start, but they started showing up eventually.

Most notable was a Ruffed Grouse we flushed, dog and me, as we ascended the upper wooded trail. But I suspected the blue sky and light wind would mean bluebirds (which it did) and yellow-rumps (also did). Two nuthatch species, chickadees and titmice.

All in all a fun hike with my ol’ dog (and best friend) Captain Jack.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:06 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. White-breasted Nuthatch
2. American Goldfinch
3. Tufted Titmouse (v)
4. Downy Woodpecker
5. American Crow* (v)
6. Ruffed Grouse
7. Red-breasted Nuthatch
8. Northern Flicker
9. Black-capped Chickadee**
10. Yellow-rumped Warbler
11. Eastern Bluebird

Elsewhere

12. Great Black-backed Gull
13. Herring Gull
14. Wild Turkey

Mammals

American Red Squirrel

(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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