7 November 2026

First hummer

Saturday, May 16th, 2015
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 16 May 2015.

Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Cool, gray morning—but still. I wore a heavy shirt instead of a hoodie and would’ve felt more comfortable in a hoodie, but I barely noticed. Lots of birds.

Ovenbird, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 16 May 2015.

Ovenbird.

No outlandish behavior or crazy sightings, but I did get a listen to (and brief look at) a Red-bellied Woodpecker, crept up on another Veery, Got a nice photo of a Chestnut-sided Warbler, and watched Ovenbirds chase and skirmish. Got drizzled on briefly. Listed thirty-eight species on the hill.

Noteworthy was my first-of-year Ruby-throated Hummingbird—a male, feeding on the new blossoms of the low-bush blueberries near the open trail. I think I saw the guy later, too (or another guy). All common sparrow species, all common thrushes, no hawks, no flycatchers (although I thought I heard a single Alder Flycatcher’s call). Nine warbs.

It rained some this evening. Still dry, though.

Tomorrow morning Jack and I will be up and on the hill first thing again.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked all trails.

1. Ovenbird**
2. Northern Parula (v)
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Tufted Titmouse (v)
5. Herring Gull* (v)
6. Common Yellowthroat**
7. Chestnut-sided Warbler**
9. Blue-headed Vireo (v)
10. Veery
11. Black-throated Green Warbler
12. Hermit Thrush
13. Mourning Dove*
14. Eastern Towhee
15. Nashville Warbler
16. American Redstart
17. Yellow Warbler**
18. Gray Catbird
19. Red-bellied Woodpecker
20. American Crow*
21. American Robin
22. Blue Jay
23. Song Sparrow
24. Northern Cardinal (v)
25. Ruby-throated Hummingbird†
26. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (v)
27. Field Sparrow
28. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
29. Purple Finch (v)
30. Wood Thrush (v)
31. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
32. American Goldfinch
33. Chipping Sparrow (v)
34. Red-eyed Vireo (v)
35. Savannah Sparrow
36. White-throated Sparrow (v)
37. Eastern Phoebe
38. Mallard

Elsewhere

39. Turkey Vulture
40. European Starling

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird

Saddle and Mark, Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine, 16 May 2015.

Saddle and Mark.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

 
Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson



3IP Logo
©1997–2026 by 3IP