Mysteries

 

8:00 to 9:00am, 47 Degrees, Clear, Wind 14mph W, Bar 29.94 rise

I am sure the squirrel is wondering what the man is doing over there. So many mysteries in The Little Forrest. While I heard a fair amount of bird chatter, I did not see many species of birds. It seems lately, the birds are hiding more. Perhaps, they know there is a man with a camera over there. The American Robins I saw were mostly in the sun. Up high where the sun was illuminating the trees. I saw something move. First thoght was a bird. It was down low. I could see gray fur so I thought squirrel. It was not moving like a squirrel. It moved further into the brush. I could still see parts of it. I was thinking maybe skunk. It shall remain a mystery. I also, heard an animal scream. Perhaps, a cat or squirrel being attacked. Then quiet. I listened for squirrel and Jays alarms but the did not come. Another mystery. I do not have enough time in The Little Forrest to know yet. More will be revealed. I am getting better at noticing which birds are which in silhouette. At least the birds I see most often. Practice makes progress.

There was a good bit of bird song for the first twenty minutes or so. Then things got quiet. Maybe a bit after the animal scream. I was just looking over the bog and hoping something would move down in the bramble of plants down there. A hawk came flying over the Bog from the north. Over the Bog down Fall Brook then east to the far side of the brook. It went out of my sight. I expected the jays to call up a storm. However it remained silent. I wonder if the hawk, probably a coopers, came down the Gulley or from the North outsside the Little Forrest. It will remain a mystery. I could easily have missed the hawk. It went through in maybe two seconds. How many times has something gone through and I just did not notice? 

Merlin Identified 20 species of birds. I saw a coopers hawk as well. I saw 5 species. Not a great average. 

Hermit Thrush

 I went down to my sit spot and this Hermit Thrush was in the open! One was moving around me in the brush this morning for twenty minutes or so. Only one unobstructed view. 

Still Gold

 8:00 to 9:30am 55 Degrees, Clear, Wind 9mph W, Bar 29.82 fall

The shine may be gone but they are still gold to me! American Goldfinch above has lost its summer plumage. Shortly after I sat every squirrel on the North side of the Littles Forrest was shouting alarms. Not sure what had them agitated, I did not see anything obvious. So, I added new thistle to that feeder. When I came back I saw red-shouldered hawk on Merlin. I did see a bird that could have been a red shouldered. it also, could not have been. The Black-capped Chickadees have been kind of quiet at the feeder. After adding new thistle, they were excited. What had been there had caked a bit and was less palatable, i guess. An explosion of chickadees! I have been putting a couple of peanuts in shell out when I come down. Hoping to entice the Blue Jays closer. The Titmice can fly off with them. I saw no Blue Jays. Not even on the feeder at Number 2. 

Most birds seemed to be hiding today. I heard them. However, they were not showing themselves. The White-breasted Nuthatches and the Downys have been shy the last few days. Not sure why. I usually see several of them. I hear both, though. I did finally see a Hermit Thrush! They love to move in the underbrush. Only once did I have a direct line of sight. Not long enough for a picture. Birds know where I am. Many times I am try to get a look at a bird. All I can see is its head. they will quite often be looking at me between leaves. I have seen enough of the behavior to think it is intentional.

The Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers were active for a while. Lots of calls. I usually only see them up in the Black Willows. They were chasing each other out of the willows and around the canopy and back. Fun to watch! Looked like they were having fun!

Merlin Identified 26 species. I saw 8. Not a great average. Mallard was  from the squirrels most likely. Pileated Woodpecker came up. Would love to see one. Ruby-crowned Kinglet was a first time. Likely in Portland today. I did not see it. 

"Stay gold Pony Boy"- The Outsiders

Red eyed Vireo

September 2026

Common Grackle

 October 2026

White-breasted Nuthatch

 

Warm and Cold

 8:30 to 10:00am, 58 degrees, Clear, Wind 10mph N, Bar 30.24 rise

As I walked across the parking, a dozen robins, maybe more, scattered. They were on the ground. Up into the trees and bushes. A few other birds as well. I was thinking it is gong to be non stop birds in the sit spot. However, it was relatively quiet. It was sunny on the grass. The sun had yet to come down into the Fall Brook Valley. A few Black-capped Chickadees and a sparrow or two. I assumed the sparrows were white throated and did not look to closely. Then I looked at Merlin. It showed white-throated and white-crowned! The white-crowned move through in migration. I can not say for sure. 

About twenty minutes in the Blue Jays set off an alarm. Then the squirrels and chipmunks added to it. A good ten minutes for my four legged friends. I saw nothing alarming. Another mystery. 

I saw my first Northern Mockingbirds. It is nice to see birds for the first time in The Little Forrest. I did not doubt that they would come through. I followed them across the canopy for a bit. At one point I thought, I have a direct line of sight, I should take a picture. After lowering the binoculars and raising the camera, I could not find it. It could have been in the same spot. I do not know. I could follow it because of the motion. However, the canopy in places is just a wall of leaves. It is hard to know where I was looking. How many times has a bird been in my direct sight and not seen? How many times was a bird watching me and I did not notice? I bet every time I am in the Little Forrest. The Blue Jays are always watching. 

As the sunlight started to come down to the valley floor, bird activity picked up. I saw a male common Yellow-throat come into the Bog. It would not come up and pose. A flock of white throated sparrows came through. I think they were all white-throats. I do not know if there are mixed flocks. thirty or forty scooting through the underbrush. Mostly on the other side of the brook. I saw a yellow warbler up in the willow. Looked at Merlin and Tennessee Warbler was there so new to the Little Forrest.

Merlin Identified 28 species. Three red dots. Eastern Wood-Pewee, EasternTowhee and Tennessee Warbler. I saw twelve, plus  a few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Mallard was probably an alarmed squirrel.