24 March 2023

Posts Tagged ‘snowshoe hare’

Rabbit

Friday, February 24th, 2023
Snowshoe Hare, Beech Hill Presereve, Rockport, Maine, 24 February 2023.
Snowshoe Hare.

Saw a Snowshoe Hare this morning. It was the highlight of my early hike with dog, which involved fresh snow, brilliant sun, high winds, blowing snow, low temperatures, and a lovely sky.

Only four bird species today—and no crows on the hill at all—but the bunny made it all worthwhile. (Actually, no, it would’ve been worthwhile without the bunny, thanks to a beautiful sky, lovely swirsly of wind-blown snow, light and shadow, etc.)

(For the first time in a while, I had more bird spp. at home than on the hill.)

More wintery conditions upcoming—low temps, etc.—but Captain Jack and I are ready and rarin’ to go.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:49 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. Herring Gull*
4. Blue Jay (v)

Elsewhere

5. Northern Cardinal (v)
6. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
7. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
8. Rock Pigeon
9. American Crow

Mammals

Snowshoe Hare

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

†First-of-year

Before the Big Chill

Thursday, February 2nd, 2023
American Crow, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 02 February 2023.
American Crow.

Since tomorrow’s supposed to bring the first of two days of super-frigid temperates (and high winds), I made a point of enjoying this not-that-frigid winter hike with dog this morning. Wasn’t sure what to expect, bird-wise.

In fact—perhaps on account of the overcast—there were fewer species (and birds) than yesterday. But still a few bluebirds and yellowrumps, along with a raven.

No woodpeckers, though. I’m already trying to divine what (if any) birds I might find on my list during tommorrow’s cold and wind.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:33 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Black-capped Chickadee
2. Tufted Titmouse (v)
3. American Crow (v)
4. Yellow-rumped Warbler
5. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
6. Common Raven (v)
7. American Goldfinch (v)

Elsewhere

8. Herring Gull
9. Rock Pigeon

Mammals

Snowshoe Hare

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

†First-of-year

A Slushy Slog

Thursday, January 26th, 2023
Snowshoe Hare, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 26 January 2023.
Snowshoe Hare.

I knew the rain was coming, so I prepped (emotionally, at least) for a challenging morning hike with dog. Sure enough, the overnight rain—and a temperature in the high 40s (F)—had turned the recent six-plus inches of snow into so much slush. Still, we headed up to the main Beech Hill trailhead, as always, albeit a little later than usual.

As expected, we were first up the slushy trail—wading, basically—and met no other dog or human. I saw no birds either. (Heard the two most dependable species, crow and chickadee.) But did, early on, spy the Snowshoe Hare perched outside its little warren cave.

Pretty sure it’s the same hare I’d seen twice before—same little hidey-hole, anyway—but, boy, was he sopping wet. And so were we.

A brighter, calmer morning tomorrow, and will stay below freezing all day.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8:56 a.m., I hiked the main trail—and then some.

1. American Crow* (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee** (v)

Elsewhere

3. Mourning Dove
4. Tufted Titmouse (v)
5. Northern Cardinal (v)
6. Wild Turkey

Mammals

Snowshoe Hare

(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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