More will be revealed

 3:00 to 4:00pm, 62 Degrees, Clear, Wind 11mph N, Bar 29.93 even

Going down the gully to the sit spot American Robins were everywhere. They were not happy I was walking through. Going through the bog, birds were active and flying about. So nice to see that kind of activity. The battery for my camera was dead. Walked out to get a new one. Birds were still active! However things got quiet in a hurry. I think my second coming was not appreciated. Still, I saw a lot of activity. 

A Red-bellied Woodpecker came very near. Lower in the trees than normal. Always behind a branch or dancing to the far side of a trunk. Still, some nice looks. I saw a Northern Flicker the second time I crossed the bog. Way more Blue Jay activity than usual. Or at least more around me. I must get more peanuts for them. Some were moving a few feet off the ground just on the other side of the brook. Not sure what it was. Just new activity for me. If I spend more time in The Little Forrest, more will be revealed.

Merlin Identified 13 species. I saw 11. Well above average for me. 

Practice

12:30 to 2:00pm, 58 Degrees, Sunny, Wind 9mphW, Bar 30.24 fall

It is all practice. All we are doing is practicing being human. I have been practicing sitting in the woods, being human. Sometimes at Kripalu you will hear folks say "Human-being is a verb not a noun. Having sat for a while in The Little Forrest, it seems like I am not learning much at this point. However, I am learning things I am not noticing. Perhaps, I am getting faster at recognizing birds. At a pace just too slow to notice. Daily practices are like that. Sometimes, it feels as if I am going backwards. Practice makes progress! 

A Carolina Wren took a direct  route to the feeder from across Fall Brook. When I am there they have taken a route that crosses the brook south of me. Then move through the brush on the other side of the dry run. The Tufted Titmice were flying a route that went between myself and the Buckthorn and up to the feeder at Number 2. They usually take a route around me. The past couple of days Northern Cardinals have been in the Buckthorn when I was down there. Perhaps, my more than human friends are getting used to my being in The Little Forrest. 

Merlin Identified 16 species. I saw 11. A really good percentage for me! Swamp Sparrow was new. Hopefully, I can get a picture as they come through. I saw a song sparrow and no matter how hard I tried to will it to be a swamp sparrow, it remained a song sparrow.

 

Slow

 8:30 to 9:30am, 43 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 3mph SW, Bar 30.51 even

A beautiful fall morning in the Little Forrest. I think I saw my first bird at twenty six minutes. The birds were hiding. The Carolina Wrens were singing up a storm somewhere on the other side of Fall Brook. Towards the end of my sit the Black-capped Chickadees and White-throated Sparrows made a good bit of noise and went silent. Amazing how different an day or hour can make. The Blue Jay above was wondering where the peanuts are. 

Merlin Identified 21 species. I saw 7. Fox sparrow is new. Also, it has the red dot. It appears it is a bit early for them. Also, killdeer which was probably not there. The rest are regular visitors. Just out of sight today.

Wonderful

 10:30 to 11:30am, 45 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 6mph S, Bar 30.54 even

The Black-capped Chickadees were in full riot today. They were just everywhere. The chickadees are the bird that is most fearless around me. Almost always the species I see the most. Today they truly did not care if I was there. Their flight path is usually around me. Coming over Fall Brook either to the north or the south of me. Today it was right over me. Almost through me. A couple of times I had to duck or move my head because I thought they were going to fly into my face. I know intellectually they wont fly into me, as they do not fly into trees and rocks. However, they were close. At one point I heard one chirp. it was close. A branch is about a foot from my left ear. It took off and flew right past me. It is truly amazing how much noise the wings of a half once bird can make! 

A Carolina Wren came into the feeder at one point. I heard it calling/chatting in a way I did not recognize. I did not think it was a Carolina Wren until I saw it. I followed the call and motion from the other side of the brook. Then into the brush along the dry run. Calling the whole way. Another wren was singing across the brook the whole time. I got the impression it was calling to its partner to let it know it was going in to the feeder. Also it knew I was there. It was interesting. 

At times I had a child like sense of wonder during my sit. The leaves in yellows, oranges and reds were floating all around The Little Forrest. The chickadees flying, singing, calling, exclaiming everywhere. I was at times not really looking at any one thing, rather I was taking it all in. Like when I was a child in a field at night full of fireflies. It was really wonderful!

Merlin identified 19 species. I saw 9 species. 

Gusty

 8:15 to 9:15am, 44 Degrees, Cloudy, Wind 15mph NW, Bar 30.03 rise

Gusty morning. I could feel the wind down in the Fall Brook Valley. That is unusual. Birds were chattier than I thoght they would be. A good number of Black-capped Chickadees flitting about. A larger number of Tufted Titmice than normal. The wind has noticeably thinned the foliage overnight. Winter comes early to Maine. Going to have to think about warm clothes for sitting in the cold. 

If you do not show up, you can not get lucky! 

Merlin Identified 13 species. I saw 7. I also saw a Downy Woodpecker(above) and a Mourning Dove. Not bad considering the wind.

Tapas

 9:00 to 9:40am, 51 Degrees, Cloudy/Drizzle/Rain, Wind 12mph S, Bar 29.87 fall

Tapas: the Sanskrit word for heat. I yoga's ethical guides, The Yamas and Niyamas, Tapas means self discipline. Leaves coming down as consistently  as a gentle snow. Motion calling my eyes to see if it was my more than human friends. As I sat in the wind and rain, I thought about discipline. Consistent practice. Frequent practice. Practice makes progress! 

Some birds were chatty today. The Black-capped Chickadees were about and boisterous as always. A couple of Blue Jays came in. No doubt looking for peanuts. I had been bringing a handful of peanuts down for my sits. They will grab peanuts when I am there but not eat at the feeder. Today the one pictured above, let out a bunch of calls right above me. Was my friend saying that dude forgot the peanuts! Loudly so all the creatures in The Little Forrest would know. Or was it something else. It shall remain a mystery. 

As the rain increased, I was thinking of why I am doing the practice of sitting. Just sitting in a forrest being has health benefits: physical and mental. There is that. Also, It is my home project for KSMOL level 2. I wish to tell the story of The Little Forrest. It has become more than just that project. I am excited to see what comes next. The seasons change. I do not really enjoy the cold, however I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the winter. 

Merlin Identified 10 species. I saw 3. Merlin showed Cedar Waxwing for the first time in weeks. I had thought they had gone for the winter. Maybe a few stick around. More will be revealled.

Fall

 2:30 to 3:30 pm, 59 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 10mph NNW, Bar 30.15 even

It is definitely fall in the Fall Brook Valley. It is that time of year. Clear and cool. The leaves are falling. It is easier to see into The Little Forrest. I am not sure what the gusts were. I could feel the wind down by the brook. The brook sits about twenty feet below the north and west rims of the valley. The condominiums on the west are another thirty feet above that. Wind does not come down to the floor often.  today most of the motion was from wind and the leaves falling. 

The only real bird highlight was a Red-bellied Woodpecker giving loud clear calls above my head. I wish I could have found it. Their heads are such a wonderful bright red. The wind kept most of my more than human friends in their quiet spots. Mostly I sat with the wind.

Merlin Identified 9 species. I saw 5 of those. I also saw White-breasted Nuthatch and Goldfinches. With the wind Merlin does not pick up as much. 

If A Tree Falls...

 8:30 to 10:00am, 48 Degrees, Cloudy, Wind 5mph NW, Bar 29.75 even

If a tree falls in The Little Forrest it makes a lot of noise! A tree fell during my sit. In grade school there was some philosophical debate. If a tree falls in the forrest and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a noise? Having spent time in The Little Forrest these past few months, I think, what a ridiculous debate. Only someone totally removed from nature would think of such a thing. It is so human centric. Our more than human friends are always there. And they hear! There is no hermetically sealed forrest without them. Nature abhors a vacuum. 

It was an interesting experience. Yes, it made noise. A good bit for sure. The tree was partly down and covered in vines. A wall of green just across Fall Brook from where I sit. I swiveled around to see the tree and what happened. I was amazed by the amount of bird activity. Many birds flying up and away from the tree on the ground. I do not know what kind as they were in silhouette. Or how many. When you add in the bird chatter, it is hard to estimate. Certainly, more than a hundred. Five hundred is believable. A thousand seems a stretch. The bird chatter went on for about five minutes. Before it returned to todays baseline. 

The birds were active and visible today. The past two days not so much. I am not so in tune with The Little Forrest that I can discern what is different. The only way to get in tune more is time in The Little Forrest. Practice makes progress. There was a five minute period where the birds were quiet. I, and Merlin, heard a Red Tailed Hawk. It was loud, close. Then back to todays baseline. At one point, I thought a Carolina Wren sounded funny. I looked at Merlin and saw Marsh Wren. Unlikely in Portland Today. Was it there? I do not know. Probably, is my guess. 

Merlin Identified 22 species. I saw 12. Herring Gull and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were not on the Merlin list. I saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. My bird of the day. 

What other philososphical debates seem silly after sitting in nature long enough?

Red-Breasted Nuthatch

 Red-breasted Nuthatch October 2026. In Maine they are known as Lobster-breasted Nuthatches. 

Dark and Dreary

 7:30 to 8:40am, 45 Degrees, Cloudy Skies, Wind 9mph ENE, Bar 30.11 rise

Really not much visible bird activity. I did not see one bird hit the feeder at Number 2! Usually, it has a fair amount of activity. It is going to rain today. I kind of expected there to be some good activity down in The Little Forrest. I think the first bird I saw was a seagull flying over the canopy. The seagull was probably thirty minutes in to my sit. 

There were some birds that I heard. Despite the listed wind, it was quite still down by Fall Brook. I was definitely sitting with stillness. I was not swiveling to look at my more than human friends. Siting with stillness. I could hear the Carolina Wrens singing. It is my favorite song of The Little Forrest. Well, one of my favorites. Some Black-capped Chickadees came in to the feeder at about forty-five minutes. A couple of White-throated Sparrows. That was about it. The Red-breasted Nuthatch above was on my walk out. What a gift! In Maine we know they are really Lobster-breasted Nuthatches. 

Merlin identified 25 species. I saw 4. One was a seagull that Merlin did not "hear." Black Scoter and Hooded Merganser are red dots. Not there. The rest were probably there just hiding. 

About Yesterday

 this is a place holder

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet October 2026

Outside Issues

 11:00am to 12:30pm,  55 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 9mph SSW, Bar 30.33 fall

I brought a lot to the Sit Spot today. An unpleasant person experience and the childhood events it evoked. It was at times hard to stay present. Nature has a wonderful calming effect. It is wonderful, however it is not a replacement for professional help. 

The birds were active and helpful to to get me into a better place. I spotted for sure my first Ruby-crowned Kinglet. (above) I saw a pair yesterday but was not sure. Now I am sure. Wonderful little birds. I even saw the ruby crown go up. What a gift! Also, I saw a house finch not on a feeder down in the Bog. 

The Blue Jays came in for peanuts again. They can be surprisingly quiet for such a noisy bird. The first ones I saw, were after I swiveled towards the feeder. The birds know where I am looking. Not just the jays. After a bit they were less stealthy. 

The leaves are thinning out. I am able to see farther into The Little Forrest. I saw my first adult male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Wow, far more impressive than the juveniles. It will be interesting to see what happens as fall progresses. 

Merlin Identified 25 species. I saw 15. One of which was a Hermit Thrush, that I saw and Merlin did not hear. I suspect most of the rest were there. Ruby-crowned Kinglet went from a red dot to Likely in Portland Today. They had that right. I saw a few!

If you are in a recovery program, it will not fix all your problems. It is not a substitute for medical care. No matter how many meeting I go to it will not fix my blood pressure! Heck, if I have an unpleasant person experience at a meeting it might even go up. Profesional help is good and sometimes neccesary!

Another Gift

 8:30 to 10:00am, 45 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 10mph NNW, Bar 30.40 rise

There were White-throated Sparrows all over the mouth of the Gulley. Just all over the place. It is hard to tell just how many are there. They feed on the ground and in among the plants. Lots of plants moving but do not perch that often. I took the picture of the one above as I was walking out. What a gift! The sparrow perched and stayed for a few moments. 

At times it felt slow in my sit spot today, Even though the white-throats were active just about the whole time. They were in The Bog too. Many hopped up into the Buckthorn above the feeder. They occasionally wandered around in the dry run below the feeder. At one point I saw birds flying low across Fall Brook. Not a usual thing. White throats! Were there thirty, forty, or a hundred. I am not sure how to count them. They were everywhere.

Merlin Identified 25 species. I saw 7 species. I am confident that most of them were there. Or flew over. I did not see the geese. I did hear them. Purple Finch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White Crowned Sparrow would alll be new to the list. I am not sure if I should add things I do not see or have confidence they are there. If I hear a clear call and Merlin says what it is yes. 

What feels like a gift to you in this moment?

Peanuts

8:00 to 9:40, 51 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 7mph W, Bar 29.98 even

It was really quiet and then birds were everywhere! Not sure why it was so quiet. I heard a few squirrels and chipmunks being alarmed. But not the whole forrest at once.  Not too windy for the birds, just quiet. It took over an hour for the first Black-capped Chickadee to come to the feeder. Even if it is only a pair or two hear and there they are around. I at least hear them. As does Merlin. Not today. I have been puttting a few peanuts out when I sit. Hoping that the Blue Jays will come in. 

First the chickadees came in. Then a large flock of robins. At one point there were five or more in the Buckthorn above the feeder. Twenty or thirty all around! White-breasted Nuthatches were coming in. Then Downy Woodpeckers. The Tufted Titmice came too. Then the Blue Jays started coming closer. Above and around. Watching what is going on in the Little Forrest. High but watching the feeder and me no doubt. They saw the peanuts! I do not know if the other birds let them know. However, the jays got closer and closer. Into the Buckthorn first. Then one grabbed a peanut. And then another. Before long a flock of jays were grabbing peanuts. One at a time. They never hit the regular feeder. I guess there is enough reward for a peanut to grab those, when I am there. When the peanuts were gone so were the jays.

While the feeder frenzy was happening, other birds were feeding in the Bog. White-throated Sparrows were everywhere. A few Carolina Wrens were about. And my favorite the Mystery Birds. Not sure why they were quiet and then not. A mystery. Many mysteries in The Little Forrest.

Merlin Identified 20 species. I saw 9 species. I think the Mallard was a agitated squirrel. I suspect the rest were there mostly the birds common to the Little Forrest. 

Peanuts. Often an expression of I did not get much. However, the small often seemingly insignificant things can bring great gifts. Do not overlook the small things. They can be great gifts. I had a wonderful experience for peanuts. What a gift!

Windy

 3:00 to 4:00pm, 68 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 14mph W, Bar 29.73 rise

When It is windy the birds are less visible. Just not much happening out in the sit spot today. I saw no Black-capped Chickadees today. I believe that is the first time since I moved down to the banks of Fall Brook. I guess if you weigh a half an once, like a chickadee, 14mph winds is a big deal. It does not feel windy down in the Fall Brook Valley. Especially if the wind is from the west. I am sitting probably fifty feet below the tops of the condominiums. I knew it would be slow. I decided to go out anyway.

It is possible to learn even when you don't know what you are learning. My guess is the gut level stuff is being learned on a sit like today. the yogis of old believed much memory was stored in our guts and our hearts. Not just our brains. the expression "it was a visceral reaction", "a gut reaction", "a heart felt reaction", are all examples of this. I can often distinguish between a branch moving because of wind, bird, squirrel. I think those are more stored in my body than brain. Stuff connected to the fight or flight responses. I think these things come from lived experience. Also, I think some of them are multi-generational memories. Perhaps, the lived experiences bring them out. 

Merlin heard 10 species. I saw 1. The wind keeps the birds down. I have no doubt that all the species it heard were there. I heard most of them myself. 

Picture of Downy Woodpecker from a few days ago.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

 Ruby throated Hummingbird September 2026. I think the feeders around the Little Forrest count. Also, I really want to replace this one. Next year...

Brown Creeper

 Brown Creeper October 2026 in The Little Forrest.

The Time of Long Shadows

 8:30 to 10:00am, 41 Degrees, Clear skies, Wind 4mph SSW, Bar 30.01 even

We have entered the time of long shadows. In Maine this time of year, and until spring, the shadows are always long. There really is no midday sun. Summer days are glorious and wonderful, winter is long. It takes hours before the sun reaches the floor of the Fall Brook Valley this time of year. It does not last long now. Picture above of a Brown Creeper. I took a few pictures before and after it was in this sunny spot. It was hard to see the creeper in the pictures. Same with a few other bird shots.

The birds were active today. Many out in the open. I think the lack of wind is important. I saw a Hermit thrush again! They call them hermits because you do not see them often. I am once again amazed by luck. Looking in the right place at the right time. I saw the creeper fly into a tree. My thought was it was not a normal/regular bird. I used the binoculars and followed it around the trees for a bit. It eventually got to a spot where I could shoot it. Had I not seen it initially it could have moved around me for a minute or two and I would have been never the wiser. Now it was not total luck. I have been practicing finding birds. Practice makes progress! I know to look for motion. I was in a place where I can find a creeper. Luck never happens on the couch. I/you can take actions to be in the right place and time to be lucky.

I finally saw a Red-Breasted Nuthatch. Always nice to see a bird for the first time in The Little Forrest. The creeper was a first. I thought they might have gone south. I checked and they are a year round resident! Who knew? Some good looks at a Red-bellied Woodpecker. They tend to be elusive. 

Merlin Identified 27 species. I saw 17 of them plus a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. I also saw some kind of raptor flying above the Little Forrest On my way out. A really good day for bird watching in my sit spot today. 

Remember, you can create your own luck. Study. Practice. Practice makes progress! Putting yourself out there. You can find the right place and time. You will never be discovered sitting on the couch!

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. 

I am learning what I don't know

 1;15 to 2:30pm, 78 Degrees, Cloudy, Wind 9mph S, Bar 29.75 rise

I have been thinking about the bird list for the Little Forrest. I am trying to post pictures for the bird list. Seventy plus birds on the list and pictures of maybe twenty. I was thinking that the Common Grackles had gone south. I saw a hundred or so in the canopy flying around together. I saw three at one time (above) so clearly they have not all gone. They flew off towards Hall Street. Not staying in the Little Forrest. I am learning a lot about the comings and goings of the Little Forrest. Mostly, I am learning what I do not know. It seems the more I learn, the less I know. Really, learning allows me to see what else there is.

I wanted to find out the names of a tree and a shrub. I went to a tree expert and showed him pictures. Surely, he will know. I found out books for tree scientists do not have pictures! Who knew? They have illustrations of the buds to identify. At this point I do not care that much. Perhaps in the spring when the buds happen. It is a willow of some sort. A neighbor said black willow. the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker loves the willow. The feeder is under a shrub. A Common Buckthorn. I now know that plant. The birds love to move around it. I have learned two of how many. Before it was trees and brush. There is a small bush with red berries under the common buckthorn. The White-throated Sparrows like the berries. Now I want to know. I am learning I want to know what this bush is.

The birds were slow today. I did not see one Downy Woodpecker. I see them almost every time. Still a good bit of activity. No Cooper's Hawk. A fourth day in a row was really asking for too much. The robins were in the brook when I got there. They do not appreciate my company and moved on. Low flow today. Will probably be puddles tomorrow. The robins like the slow flow better. At least from what little I have seen. 

I saw a deer print in the "Dry Run" it is still muddy. I have seen squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs. I have hear tell of skunks, raccoon's, and deer. Number 7 I heard has or had a trail camera. Will have to ask him about it. 

Merlin identified 16 bird species. I saw ten of them. I also saw a grackle and a yellow-bellied. I have no doubt the other six species were there. They were all usual birds. 

Blue Jay

 

Blue Jay October 2026. the watchers of The Little Forrest. 

The Watchers

2:45 to 4:15pm, 68 Degrees, Partly Sunny, Wind 8mph S, Bar 29.90 fall

The Blue Jays are the watchers of The Little Forrest. The one pictured above was definitely checking me out. Their flight patters avoid me. Giving my sit spot a wide berth. Probably the largest bird that lives in the Little Forrest. The crows I suspect live across the Ocean(ave). I was talking with Number 2 today. She said the Blue Jays are watching her. She will throw peanuts out for the chipmunks and the jays often get them first. Also, they hang around her deck when she is in front of her slider. Hoping for peanuts no doubt. I was in my sit spot when she filled her feeders. First bird was a blue jay. It squawked loud and clear! Not only did the jays come but so did the cardinals. Their voices carry. If there is a lot of squuwking there is an intruder and they will drive it off. Always vigilant! 

This afternoon, the birds were active. However, there were several times when everything was quiet. No alarms just quiet. This happens in the Little Forrest for no discernible reason. Or at least not discernible to me. Still fun to watch in the quiet. A squirrel walked five feet from me. Sitting still allows our non human friends to get close. Even if they know we are there. The chipmunks and squirrels no longer give alarm calls when I am sitting by Fall Brook. Today its flow is down. In a few days without rain it will stop and be puddles. 

As, I was looking towards the feeder at Number 2, A Coopers Hawk! Three days running. It came from behind maybe twenty feet from my right shoulder maybe less. Flew over the bog, low. I was above it! It  turned maybe twenty feet in front of me and went down the brook. It is not often that one is above a hawk. This is the second time I have been in the Little Forrest and been above a cooper's. And close. 

And here it is in all its glory! It flew down the brook and pulled in to see what prey it could see. And then the watchers came. Blue Jays squawking alarms at it. Lots of jays. They chased it to the other side of the brook. Before I could find it and get a picture, the jays chased it off again. This is the secong time a cooper's has been close to me in two days. Sitting still for the win! I suspect this is the same bird I have seen the last two days. They have started their migrations south. Not sure how long this one will terrorize the inhabitants of the Little Forrest before heading south. 

Merlin Identified 15 species. No red dots. I saw 11 of them. I suspect they were all there. Plus, the Cooper"s Hawk. It was hunting and not calling. Stealth mode. 
 

Carolina Wren

 Carolina Wren September 2026

Northern Waterthrush

 

Northern Waterthrush September 2026

Swainson's Thrush

 Swainson's Thrush September 2026

Common Yellowthroat

 Common Yellowthroat September 2026

Mourning Dove

 

Mourning Dove August of 2026

Eastern Phoebe

 Eastern Phoebe September 2026

Tufted Titmouse

 

Tufted Titmouse August of 2026.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak September 2026
 

Black-capped Chickadee

 Black-capped Chickadee September 2026. 

American Robin

 

American Robin September 2026