Blueberry thief (juvenile Herring Gull).

Tiny snake.

Took a quick hike with Jack this morning—up and down in 45 minutes—so I could return to help lead a field trip of enthusiastic middle schoolers studying symbiosis. We saw interesting birds (including a young herring gull eating blueberries, a thing I’d never encountered), studied various insects, and  found a tiny snake. It was a fun time.

I also got a look at one happy Cedar Waxwing—perched in a cloud of newly hatched flies, just pickin’ ’em up one by one—and spied a high-flying Red-shouldered Hawk emitting its distinctive (if faraway) cry.

Waxwing heaven, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 13 September 2017.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8 a.m.—and again about 9:15 a.m.—I hiked the open trail.

1. American Crow*
2. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
4. Tufted Titmouse (v)
5. Blue Jay (v)
6. Northern Flicker
7. Savannah Sparrow
8. Eastern Towhee (v)
9. Song Sparrow
10. American Goldfinch**
11. Cedar Waxwing
12. Eastern Phoebe
13. Yellow-rumped Warbler
14. Red-eyed Vireo
15. Black-and-white Warbler
16. Pine Warbler
17. Common Yellowthroat
18. Gray Catbird
19. Downy Woodpecker
20. Herring Gull*
21. Common Raven (v)
22. Red-shouldered Hawk

Elsewhere

23. Mourning Dove
24. Northern Cardinal

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere