A Gift

 8:15 to 9:30am, 58 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 9 NNE, Bar 30.24 fall

This bird is a gift. Every new bird is a gift. Really, every bird is a gift. Behold the Northern Waterthrush! I did not believe there was one in the Little Forrest. I would think there needs to be more reliable water than there has been. It just goes to show how little I know about the Little Forrest and my non human friends there. I usually just sit in my chair and don't move. However, I saw this bird in the sun and had to investigate. I was curious as to what bird was overlooking the Bog. 

I saw a White-breasted Nuthatch hit the feeder today. A gift! I am excited to see what comes next. Lots of new things today. Each a gift. The feeder is above a dry run. A place that water runs when Fall Brook overflows. It makes where I sit an "Island." Yesterday, I saw more chipmunks than I had before. Many making alarm calls about me. Today there was at least one chipmunk down in the dry run. What a difference a day makes. There is a bush/tree that overhangs the dry run. Birds usually stop in this tree/bush before dropping onto the feeder. Today there were Northern Cardinals in the Tree/bush. Not on "my" side mind you. However they were there checking things out. I would love it if they would feed while I was there. 

I saw at least two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers up in a willow oak. At least that is what I am calling the trees for now. Same tree I photographed the sap sucker in two days ago. I think I saw a Northern Flicker in the willow oak closer to me. Definitely, a woodpecker. I did not have a clear view. I am working on figuring out what the trees and bushes are. This too is a gift. 

Merlin Identified 20 bird species. Only one red dot. The now photographed Northern Waterthrush. It will now go on the list. Eastern Wood-pewee and Northern House Wren were Unlikely in Portland today. However, they could have been there. I also, Saw at least one woodpecker that was not on Merlin's sound identification. 

What feels like a gift to you today?

Patience

 2:30 to 4:00pm, 65 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 5mph ESE, Bar 30.39 fall

It takes time to gain the trust of the inhabitants of the Little Forrest. The Black-capped Chickadees are loving the thistle feeder. At this point I do not think they care that I am there. The Tufted Titmice (above) are not as sure about me. I was there for a while. At first the titmice were very skittish. If I so much as looked at the feeder when they were on it they were gone. They would not get on the side facing me. If I so much as lifted the camera...just gone. Ignoring them and sitting quietly made them more comfortable. I believe they live upstream of where I sit. On the other side of Fall Brook. In the beggining their flight pattern was more indirect. They would fly through the smaller trees, bushes and brush. Stopping along the way to see if it was safe. After a while they were flying out of the brush on the other side of the brook straight to the feeder. Sitting still is sometimes the right action. 

I saw more Grey Catbirds than I have seen before. They were not getting as close as the chickadees and the titmice. However they are getting closer. I suspect that they see me not bothering their smaller friends. Maybe, they think, I am okay. The Blue Jays are getting closer as well. Their flight pattern to the feeder at Number 2 was not over my feeder or sit spot. A couple of times they sat over the feeder. Quite high, close enough to check out what is going on though. I wonder if they will hit the feeder when I am there. Patience. Time in the Little Forrest. Time takes time. 

I heard a woodpecker banging on a tree above. I saw it a few times. Moving about. Probably the same bird that I posted yesterday. I believe a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, juvenile.  There are some holes on a dead branch in the tree it was moving about on. I wonder if it is its nest. More will be revealed in time. 

Merlin Identified 22 bird species. No red dots today! The sapsucker was Likely in Portland Today. There was a American Golden Plover on the list. Not Likely in Portland Today. Also, It is a shore bird. It is less than a half mile to shore habitat as the plover flies. Not going to add it to the list. It is a beautiful bird though. 

Suit up and Show up!

 8:00 to 9:15am, 55 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 8mph NE, Bar 30.60 rise

You have to show up to see what is going to happen. Much of life is just showing up. So, I showed up to sit this morning. Mornings seem hit or miss on the Island. I got down there and could hear Black-capped Chickadees on the feeder. I fumbled with the chair and then they were gone. Birds were quiet for a bit. Then I saw Alarming Cat! Walking behind units 1-4. Past the feeder at Number 2. Chipmunks and squirrels were sounding the alarm. Birds were quiet after that. 

I saw the woodpecker in the picture above. I was hoping that it was a red-bellied. Because of its size. When looking at the bird books and apps. As close to an identification as I get is Hairy Woodpecker. I thought is was too large for that. Hairy would be a new bird for The Little Forrest. 

After a while the chickadees came back to the feeder. Oh man, did they come back. I try to avoid looking at and pointing my camera lens at the first birds. I do not know how many there were. The most I saw was five at one time. However, they are in the trees waiting to drop down on the feeder. When the chickadees are feeding the other inhabitants are paying attention. The first ones are not very noisy. After a while my part of the Little Forrest was alive with chickadee song. Some Tufted Titmice came around for a bit too. Much more skittish than their smaller friends. 

More seems to be visible during a chickadee frenzy. I tend to no pay attention and look beyond them. I think they know where I am looking. When I am engaged with watching other birds, the chickadees will fly closer than when I am watching them. I can see them in my peripheral vision and feel them. Sometimes under ten feet from me. Some Common Yellowthroats in the bog during the frenzy. Also, I was looking for flycatchers over one of the pools and noticed birds using it as a bath. (cardinal/catbird) 

I am glad I moved down into the Fall Brook Valley. Much more bird behavior to observe. Who knows what will happen next. What will show up. Gotta suit up and show up!

Merlin identified 21 species. It did not identify the hairy above. I also, saw a Downy Woodpecker. A Rock Pigeon is new to the Little Forrest. Baltimore Oriole was the only red dot. Could be one from farther north making its way to the Caribbean or Central America. 

Update: I put the picture up on Maine Birds in Facebook. Juvenile Yellow Bellied Sapsucker. 

Swivel

 

3:00 to 4:00pm, 64 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 5mph SSE, Bar 30.39 steady

`I bought  a swivel chair. I wanted to be able to see in all directions. If I sit in a chair that is stationary, it is almost imposable to turn and see behind me. I was following the movements of a bird in the canopy. A Great Crested Flycatcher! And ended up looking towards a pool in Fall Brook. I have not been sitting looking in this direction. the crested took me in this direction. I would never have seen this Eastern Phoebe if I had not chased the first flycatcher. I got to watch this one dive on the pond and come back up several times. Just fun to watch. How much do I miss with my lack of 360 vision? 

I moved the bird feeder that was above the Gulley to down near the island. I have seen Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice on it. They found it fast. It sits under a tree that the birds sit in anyway. I never saw the titmice on it above the Gulley. Location, location, location! I saw a pair of titmice hit the tree, see me, then fly for the feeder at Number 2. The feeder I put up is in the middle of The Little Forrest. I suspect it will be popular with the inhabitants of the Little Forrest. I saw Blue Jays down and around the Island today. It is not on what I think of as their flight routes. I suspect they know about the feeder. 

Merlin identified 22 species of birds. Red dots: Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Towhee, Hermit Thrush, Great Horned Owl. I saw the crested flycatcher. Wish I could have gotten a picture. I heard a Belted Kingfisher! as did Merlin. Not enough water in the brook for it to fish. However it is not that far so maybe a scouting mission. Northern Cardinal was my bird of the day. Saw that one! 

A Disturbance

 

8:15 to 9:15am,  54 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 7mph N, Bar 30.13 rise

When I walked down to the Island, I could hear the Northern Cardinals calling away. I even saw a couple in the underbrush across the brook. Then, things got quiet. My first thought was that I had disturbed things and the birds were taking some time to decide about me Then the crows got noisy. They were flying from over the Ocean (ave), then the Little Forrest and beyond to Canco Woods. Not sure what set them off. I have been noticing there are less crow sounds down by Fall Brook. It may be that the brook is so much lower than the condominiums that their noise travels over where I am sitting. It was about a half an hour before birds landed on the feeder at Number 2. It is a well established feeder and gets a lot of action. Some something had the birds in the Little Forrest quiet.

I am still new to the Island in Fall Brook. I saw my first chipmunk on the Island. I knew they were down here. I had just not seen them. I saw a couple of prints from a deer down there. There is certainly more wildlife in the Valley than the Sit spot above the Gulley. More will be revealed. 

Merlin Identified 16 bird species. Red dot for Common Merganser and Northern Waterthrush. I suppose it is possible a merganser flew overhead. Although it is a little early for them. Common Loon, also possible it flew overhead. Also, a little early for the loons to come down from the lakes. I did hear a Great Blue Heron overhead. Man, can they make some noise!

Am I connecting?

 10:30 to 11:30am, 59 Degrees, Cloudy, Wind 5mph S, Bar 30.10 fall

The birds were pretty quiet during my sit. Someone across Fall Brook past the trees was cutting their lawn. I do not know if this was why. Or it was the beginning of the rain. It drizzled a few times in my hour along the brook. I think it is the fifth tome I have sat there. I do not yet have a feel for what is baseline. 

I had an unexpected visitor this morning. I heard some branches break and looked downstream. I saw my neighbor from Number 7 for a second. He was clearly moving up steam. He crossed the brook and was gone. No more branches breaking. I expected him to come up to me and talk. But he was gone. I suspect he saw someone down by the brook and wanted to investigate. His unit is twenty plus feet in elevation higher than the brook. I was hoping to talk to him. I heard he had or maybe has a wildlife camera I would love to hear what is there in the night and when we are not looking.

I am sitting about an hour each day in The Little Forrest. I am certain that I am connecting to the place. Watching and listening to the inhabitants is certainly a connection. I question just how welcome I am by the inhabitants. Yesterday, there was an agitated squirrel across the brook. I believe I was the source of agitation. It took about a week before the squirrels at the top of The Gulley stopped being agitated. It will take some time for them to get used to me. I am noticing the comings and goings of birds. The routes they generally travel. Some I noticed from sitting above the Gulley. I now have a different perspective on some of those pathways. 

This morning lying in bed with the window open I could hear the birds start to sing. First a Blue Jay, then a Black-capped Chickadee, and on of my favorite songs the Carolina Wren. I love this connection. it is not just birds singing. It's jays, chickadees and wrens. While i do not yet recognize individual birds, I bet some of them recognize me. 

Merlin Identified 13 species. Only the Hermit Thrush had the red dot. Everything else is a regular voice in the Little Forrest. 

Who knew?

 

8:00 to 9:15am, 55 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 7mph N, Bar 30.12 steady

The Common Yellowthroat (above) likes to feed and cavort down in the briars and brambles of the boggy part of The Little Forrest. I am learning. Practice makes progress! As my friend Gerry, an 80 something lobsterman, says "little by little the bird builds its nest" except he says it in french. There is a joke. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice. What are you practicing today? 

I have been sitting down by the Fall Brook in the Little Forrest for about four days. Today was the first time I really noticed how much bird life there is in the Bog. Down in the briars, brambles, and ferns. The birds do not come up to the top where you can see them easily. However, you can follow the motions. Being mindful of what motion is the wind and what is bird motion. This takes practice. In the time I spent sitting above the Gulley, I learned to differentiate wind, squirrel and bird motions. Just by sitting and being mindful of what is going on in the Little Forrest. I also saw a Yellow-rumped Warbler. And more than a few Mystery Birds.

On my way down the side of the Gulley, I heard an owl! Super exciting. Merlin unfortunately did not hear it. It did identify a Great Horned Owl later. I did not hear a hoot then. I listened to the song of the Great Horned Owl and it could be what I heard this morning. It is on the Ebird list for Canco Woods. 

it was a bit of a strange morning. Downy Woodpecker did not come up in the first hour. Also, Goldfinch, one of the most heard birds in the Little Forrest did not come up until I was on my way out. 

Merlin Identified 20 species. Northern Waterthrush again. This time I saw a mystery bird by slow moving water so..maybe. Great Horned Owl was the other red dot. I am inclined to believe this one. First time in a while it identified a Cedar Waxwing. I had thought they went south. New, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow.