Move a Muscle

 

6:30 to 7:30 am, 57 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 5mph NNW

Move a muscle change a thought. Perhaps not the right phrase. I moved maybe two feet to my right and I noticed a birch tree. It does not take much of a shift to change one's perspective. It is not that close to me. It was behind some tree trunks. The other day when it was slow in the sit spot I saw some birch bark on the ground down by where the crick would be if it was not a drought. I thought I was wrong because I had not seen a birch tree. I need to trust my observations more. 

As I walked out my door I could see Black-capped Chickadees on the feeder in front of my home. These are the same chickadees that inhabit The Little Forrest. I saw them fly out to the island as I walked out to the sit spot. Shortly after I sat, the chickadees came into the Little Forrest from behind me. Low and all around me for a moment. I had hoped they would hit the feeder near my sit spot. Same feeder same seed. They are eating the seed in front of my house faster than in The Little Forrest. It has been there longer. Perhaps it is because they have been eating in front of my condominium for years. From All About Birds

• The oldest known wild Black-capped Chickadee was a male and at least 11 years, 8 months old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in New York in 2021. It had been banded in the same state in 2009.

 It is amazing to me what watching nature regularly has changed in me. I have moved into watching the birds and now I think about the birds more. I have never really thought about how old a chickadee could be. Now I wonder.  

When I got to my sit spot there was a fair amount of bird activity. Mostly calls. The aforementioned chickadees flying through. And one agitated squirrel. The bird calls did not seem agitated. Around ten minutes or so, there was a squirrel in Old Red clearly agitated with me! I thought we had passed that. It took off to the west. I followed its travel through the motion of branches and leaves. It moved to the far end of my sight. Perhaps it was not a regular visitor to the Little Forrest. Later another squirrel traveled within ten feet of me without worry. My phone shifted on my chair and I moved and the squirrel moved faster! It let out a couple of quick calls and then stopped. So, I am not fully trusted. 

The birds while calling seemed subdued until the sun started to reach down into the Little Forrest. It was 57 degrees. It seems like the fifties is the time they slow in the mornings. I know a few of the birds are year round. It gets much colder so it will be interesting to see how they act going into winter. Some birds will head to South America! Not sure when they will leave but the Red-eyed Vireo travels to the Amazon rain forrest. A much larger forrest. And that to is connected to and part of The Little Forrest. Amazing how interconnected everything is!

Merlin heard 23 bird species. Most of them were probably there. The mallard was an agitated squirrel. I still do not think there is a water thrush in the Little Forrest as there is no water. We are in drought. 

Seemed Quiet

 

5:55 to 6:55am, 59 degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 7 S

Seemed Quiet even though I heard many bird species. Fall has arrived in The Little Forrest Even if it is still 23 days away. In Maine winter comes early and stays late. Not a terrible amount of bird activity this morning. A fair amount of song and calls. The sun does not actually start to warm up the Little Forrest until about an hour and a half after sunrise. It takes its time to rise over the islands in Casco Bay, part of the Gulf of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean.   

This Grey Catbird was checking me out. There is quite often one near the feeder at 23. This morning it came into the Little Forrest and circled me a bit. It stopped a few times to check me out. It would have a clear line of site to me while still having a little something in between us. I suspect some birds have done this without me even knowing. 

The squirrels were active this morning. Not really affected by the cold. I saw at least one chipmunk. I suspect I saw the same one on two occasions. It is not often that I see a chipmunk in the Little Forrest. I am guessing where there is a whole for it from the few times I saw one. 

At one point I heard a Red-Breasted Nuthatch. Or as I like to say lobster-breasted nuthatch. Maine you know. It is the first time I was sure without Merlin.  Unlikely in Portland today. I knew! My hearing is getting better. It sounds a lot like the White-breasted Nuthatch. Maybe smaller and less deep. it is a cool feeling to know a bird sound and not question it. 

Sound can only be heard in the present moment. Perhaps that is why nature/bird meditations are so good for us. Must be present to hear the birds.

Merlin heard 22 species this morning. Way different than yesterday afternoon. Also, I do not think the wind was actually 7mph. The tree canopy was barely moving. Unlikely in Portland today. Eastern Towhee, White Throated Sparrow, and Red-breasted Nuthatch. The nuthatch was definitely here. I suspect the White Throated Sparrows are here as well. I also saw five Mallards fly over. Not a bad morning in the Little Forrest. 

Super Slow

 4:00 to 4:30pm, 73 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 9mph S

Afternoons are a slow time. Merlin did not register a bird until minute seventeen. A goldfinch. Even for afternoon that is slow. With the wind and gusts, I suspect much of the song was blown away. I sit on the south side of the Little Forrest so the wind was blowing from my back and away. It definitely is starting to feel like fall. That could have something to do with it. Looking forward to tomorrows sit spot. 

Alarming!

 6:10 to 7:15am, 68 Degrees, Cloudy, Wind 5mph SSW

I think the Northern Cardinals have come to accept me in their home, The Little Forrest. I saw much more activity from them when I sat down. Flying from the copse of trees across from me to the ferns at the bottom of the gulley, to the vines on the far side of the gulley, and to trees on my side of the gulley. Just way more activity. Some of which is easy to miss. Through practice, I am making progress on my ability to see the happenings of The Little Forrest. A pair of cardinals in the open was kind of cool.

About twenty minutes into my sit the alarms went off! And this feral cat came through. I heard the squirrels screaming behind me before I saw the cat. The cat was moving fast and stealthily. Down into the gulley and into the ferns. For a moment it came out of the brush and gave me a look. That was when I was able to get the photograph. There were times that I could see it but could not photograph it in the undergrowth. This cat is a predator! It moved to the east towards Canco Woods as did the alarm calls.  Not only were the squirrels screaming the birds were squawking. An incredible amount of noise. I probably saw more birds flying in the canopy, than I had in the six or seven weeks I have been doing this. The alarms, no doubt communicated that the threat was on the ground and go high in the trees. Merlin added six or so birds in this period. I could not really distinguish the individual species in the riot of noise. 

There is another house cat I have seen. It just sits in the sun in the back yards of the houses across the gulley. No alarms for that cat. My guess is the animals of The Little Forrest know the cat. I suspect this cat gets fed at home. 

There was something giving off an alarm call for twenty minutes or so after the predator cat passed. It was off to the west. The opposite direction of the cat. I have referred to this sound as agitated squirrel in the past. When I say squirrel I mean Grey Squirrel. The only squirrel I have seen in The Little Forrest. This alarm is not the warning call of a grey squirrel. Sounds more like a chipmunk but larger. Perhaps a red squirrel. I do not know. The birds were quiet for twenty to thirty minutes. 

Merlin Identified 23 birds. Most of the usual suspects. It did not identify Mourning Dove, However, I saw three! They were not mourning this morning! A few red dots. Red shouldered hawk! It showed up dureing the alarm riot of noise. So I do not know if it was up above the Little Forrest or not. I love the sound of hawks on the wind. 

More Will Be Revealed!

 

6:15 to 7:10am, 64 Degrees, Partly Sunny, Wind 0mph 

Wow! I saw way more birds than I have before. Even with yesterdays chickadee feeding frenzy. I saw about five Northern Cardinals at the same time. So far they have been elusive. I could here them calling back and forth before. I was guessing that it was a pair and maybe it was. They really like the dense section of woods directly across from my sit spot. There is a (I need to find out) bush near 23's bird feeder. Birds often stop there before getting on to the feeder. (is it safe?) Mostly I have seen catbirds and downys on the feeder. Today the cardinals were hitting the feeder. At one point when I was looking at a Downy Woodpecker, a flock must have come over. I looked over towards the feeder and five cardinals flushed and flew across the gulley to the dense copse of trees. Two males, three females. I have seen birds fly between 23's feeder area and the dense copse before. However today I saw it happen many times. Perhaps, I was just missing it and I am getting better at spotting it. I think the birds are getting more comfortable with me. At one point there was a male less than twenty feet from me with a clear line of sight. No obstructing branches or leaves. Super cool! The birds are definitely more comfortable with me sitting there.

Photographer Steve McCurry said if you only have seven hours a week for photography do an hour each day. To keep your mind thinking about it. Every day. I am certainly thinking about the sit spot when I am not there. I get excited to see what happens next. Sorry for the poor photo. 

Part of more being revealed is because of practice. We are not so much what we think as we are a collection of our habits. I am practicing sitting and watching The Little Forrest. Remember, Practice makes progress. 

There was another visitor to 23's feeder this morning. I could see a bird in the bush and then in the grasses and weeds past where it is mowed. I had the binoculars on it for a bit. However I was looking through so much greenery I could not see it clearly. I was sure it was a Brown Thrasher. When it flew off I looked at Merlin and it had added Brown Thrasher! Unlikely in Portland today. Red dot. And yet...

Merlin identified 19 bird species. Only two had the red dot. Three more in the Unlikely in Portland today. However I have seen Baltimore Oriole, Carolina Wren, and Northern Flicker in Canco Woods recently. 

A frenzy!

 

8:00 to 9:10am, 64 Degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 4mph NW

I sat and immediately heard the call of a Red Bellied Woodpecker! Was hoping it would show itself, but no.  Sounded like the call of a Downy Woodpecker but bigger. When I heard it I knew woodpecker, kind of cool. Had to look at Merlin to know what kind. 

Some White-breasted Nuthatches were calling immediately as well. They started over by Fall Brook and moved east. I could hear a pair. At one point they were on Old Red. I thought they might creep down the tree and into sight. However they kept moving high in the trees maybe past Frank's house at the end of the gulley. At least they went past my ability to hear them. 

A feeding frenzy for the chickadees! they came down to the feeder while I was there. The feeder is about twelve feet from my chair and about the hight of my head. I try not to stare or take too many pictures so that they feel comfortable. At one point there were three chickadees on the feeder at once. It is really wild to have fifteen or twenty birds all around me and taking turns hitting the feeder. More than one they flew within two or three feet of my head! I could hear the sound of their little wings. I could hear The Tufted Titmice during the frenzy. They seemed mostly to be behind me and close. They, however, never showed themselves. The titmice were more vocal and closer than normal. I suspect they wanted to get at the feeder but I was there. 

Merlin heard twenty bird species. Mostly the usual suspects. It did show Oyster Catcher. The Little Forrest is definitely not their habitat. However, It could be flying overhead. Its about a half mile from Back Cove, a tidal marshy area. Also, Water Thrush came up again. Also, it put up a little blurb for where to look for the Water Thrush. I am curious if this has meaning. It does not always give me a little blurb when I use the sound identification feature. I will have to look and see if there is some water around the corner where the gulley meets the brook. 

Slow Afternoon

 4:15 to 5:05pm, 74 Degrees, Sunny, Wind 7mph S

Ah afternoon, its just slow in the sit spot. The High School was having a game or practice and there was some carpentry across the gulley. This makes the birds chill a bit. Still things were happening. I saw the male cardinal for the first time! It was in the dense section of trees directly across the gulley.  I have seen the female a few times now. Saw a White-breasted Nuthatch in Old Red. Always amazed by how big the nuthatch's call is. Saw another nuthatch down near where the gulley connects with Fall Brook and turns south to run into Back Cove. Back Cove is part of Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine which is in the Atlantic Ocean. The Little Forrest is connected to and part of much bigger world. 

Merlin identified 17 bird species. I believe a few were wrong. I did not hear a raven. I think it mistook a jay. As much as I want to add the Water Thrush to my bird list, I am not. 

Almost!

 6:15 to 7:00am, 63 Degrees, Foggy, Wind 3mph S

First time sitting in the fog. It seemed a little more subdued than normal for this time of day. Interesting even if a bit quiet. When I walked out to the sit spot. I could hear a nice little flock of American Goldfinches at the Island. It is a small patch of green in the middle of the parking area for the condominiums. Two red maples, three evergreens(Spruce/Hemlock?), grass, and two small gardens. As usual Cardinals and Goldfinches to start. 

There is a dense group of trees behind house number two. So dense, that I cannot see the house. I saw a few birds moving about those trees this morning. I feel like I am getting better at seeing the birds. Saw a few up in the canopy on my side of the crick as well. Too high to make out what they were. Going to have to start bringing the binoculars. 

At one point the Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice were behind me. Left, right and center. I sit inside the tree line. One large red maple is also outside the tree line. The birds like the red maples. Only one chickadee came down to the feeder. In front of me and to my left. Thought I was going to get a flurry of birds. Almost, but no! Maybe they will get used to me. When I got home there were chickadees and titmice in the red maple in front of my condominium. Most likely the same birds I heard in my sit spot. They were all over the feeders in front of my place for about twenty minutes. With a Downy Woodpecker thrown in for good measure. 

At one point I heard a call high on the wind. Clear and repetitive. A big volume call like a hawk, definitely not a hawk sound. Bald Eagle! It may not have come down into The Little Forrest, however flying over counts. That gets added to the bird list for the sit spot. 

Merlin Identified 16 species. Bald Eagle, White Throated Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Purple Finch, All had the red dot and Unlikely in Portland today. I have no doubt that was a bald eagle. I have seen enough around Back Cove. They are here. I saw an Oriole three days ago in Canco Woods so its probably here. 

Oh My Little Chickadee!

 12:45 to 1:15pm, 68 Degrees, Cloudy, Wind 6mph ESE

It was quiet in the sit spot for the first five minutes. Then came the Black-capped Chickadees! the one in the picture was maybe seven feet from my face! Really cool. I know at least the chickadees have found the feeder. And if the chickadees know, other birds know. For about five minutes the chickadees were feeding at the feeder. I could hear their calls start over near Fall Brook and back they went after spending time at the feeder. After snapping a few photos I let them be. Only occasionally looking directly at them. I want them to be comfortable with me. At one point I looked up at one, made eye contact, and it made an alarmed chirp and was gone. And yet, they kept coming. I am not sure if it was just a pair or more. They seem to be okay with me there!

At one point I heard a woodpecker pecking at a tree over by the brook. It sounded larger than the Downy Woodpeckers I see in the sit spot. I have seen downys pecking and they don't seem to make much noise. Then I saw a downy come from that direction as they do. At one point a male was in the dead tree just to my right. Maybe three feet from me and up six feet. Then it made its way over to the suet feeder at 23. 

I saw my first chipmunk in The Little Forrest. I am surprised it took so long. I have seen them around the condominiums property, so i figured they must be in The Little Forrest. I have mentioned squirrels. I also saw a ground hog just outside the tree line. So much to be learned and observed. I ran into a neighbor who lives at the end of the gulley, just outside The Little Forrest. He referred to the gulley without my prompting. So clearly other folks think it is a gulley. He says skunks come out of it at night. This might be a sign that I should get a trail camera. 

Merlin Identified 12 bird species. Nothing out of the Likely category. It was a quiet part of the day. 

Evening Dove

 5:30 to 6:00, 72 degrees, Cloudy, Wind 10mph N

Long Day! I volunteer at the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center on Saturdays. I pick up canoes and put them down. Not qualified for the bird stuff yet. However I am learning. I did sunrise and then off to the marsh for some pre volunteering birding. Saw and photoed a Sharp Shinned Hawk. Not a great picture, however, it was good enough for an ID. By the time I get back it is after three. Super tired in the sit spot. 

Hard to see when you just want to sleep. I did not see many birds. Did I mention it is hard to see when you want to sleep? When I first sat some serious calling from cardinals and downeys. Saw a downey on 23's suet feeder. Not sure if there was a pair. They usually travel in pairs. Yesterday there were two on my feeder in front of my house. Very likely this female was one of them. After it left the feeder I heard a loud call just over my head! And there she was about ten feet above and two feet over. That woke me up for a bit. Also, I heard the downy's song. I love all woodpecker's songs. They sound like laughter. 

for a good while there was a Carolina Wren singing. If a Carolina Wren Is singing there are probably no predators about. For a small bird they make a lot of noise. They are definitely not afraid to let you know they are there. The volume of the song is impressive for a bird their size. It is said that bird song is calming to humans. I think we know from our ancestors that if the birds are singing there are no large predators about. Perhaps it is now in our DNA. We are not as far removed from nature as we think we are. 

The Mourning Dove pictured above flew quietly down by the crick. If we were not in drought it would be in the water. It is the first time I saw one in the sit spot. It would have been easy to miss, had I not seen the motion. It moved off into the ferns for a bit. Hard to see. I saw the motion of the ferns. It is easy to imagine that they have been doing this when I was in the sit spot and just did not see them. When I was first taught the sound of the Mourning Doves by my Dad, It was in the morning. For years and years I thought they were morning doves. So tonight I photoed an evening dove. 

Merlin IDed 15 birds. It did not hear the Mourning Dove! I thought it would hear it when it flew, but no. Wood Duck again. Will maybe go back and listen to the recording, however not tonight. Again the Dark Eyed Junco, too early. I saw the Red Breasted Nuthatch in Canco Woods yesterday. Also, too early so maybe the juncos are here. 

Canco Woods

 

7;00 to 7:40am, 65 Degrees, Sunny, Wind 5 S

Walked out to the sit spot and could hear Cardinals calling to each other. I saw the female down low when I first sat down. She flew up into Old Red, I believe. For a while I could hear them calling in front of me and behind me. They did not seem pleased. Lots of chatter from the usual suspects for about fifteen minutes. Then Merlin ID ed a Great Horned Owl, and The little Forrest went quiet. Almost fifteen minutes of no bird chatter. Not even a distant crow or jay. I have not heard an owl in The Little Forrest. However, this is the third time Merlin ID ed Great Horned Owl and things silenced. 

Merlin ID ed 12 birds. The Great Horned Owl was the only  unlikely in Portland today. 

Canco Woods is connected to The Little Forrest. If you go down the Crick to Fall Brook and go upstream you are in Canco Woods. An Argument can be made that The Little Forrest is part of Canco Woods. Its trees are connected to my sit spot. My guess is that most things that are in Canco Woods can be in my sit spot and heard from there. Here is the ebird list 146 birds. 

I walked over there today. There is a retirement community in the woods. After I started walking the were using leaf blowers. Not really good for birding. Some good open areas where you can see into the trees to see the birds. The picture above is a Carolina Wren from Canco Woods. Saw a lot of Cedar Waxwings. Fun little birds. Also, I saw a Red Breasted Nuthatch, Not likely in Portland today. So my guess is the ones that Merlin is hearing in the sit spot are here. Saw a few Baltimore Orioles. Took me a while to figure it out because they were yellow and not orange. How bout dem O's? Definitely a better place to photograph than the sit spot. I will be back. We are in drought. Fall Brook was dry where I crossed it in Canco woods. 

The Cardinal Rule

 6:00 to 7:00am, 63 degrees, Clear skies, Wind 3mph W

I did not see as many birds as I have the last couple of days. I was starting to think I got this. That always leads to trouble. I did see some birds fly high overhead. Ducks or geese, it is hard to tell when they are flying fast and you only catch glimpses through the tree canopy. For the most part, the bird sounds were not as close as they usually are.

When I firs sat I heard a Bobolink. I really do not think of them in this habitat. They do have an unmistakeable song. It sounds like bob-o-link. I guess that it is named after its song. Merlin said Bobolink despite Unlikely in Portland Today. I am confidant there was one. 

At one point I could hear a pair of Cardinals calling to each other. They started off to my right and above. I sit just inside the tree line. Almost all of the calls and songs are in front of me. This pair moved towards me. At one point directly over head. Not visible through the canopy. And then behind me, close behind. I am twisting and craning my neck. Calls are closer and closer. Then down and to my left a female Cardinal. No obstructions between us maybe twenty feet. As soon as I make eye contact she is gone. A couple of flaps and a glide into the brush on the other side of the gulley. Were they checking me out? Were they trying to see if the bird feeder was safe? I do not know. I know there are photographers that have become friends with the animals in a forrest. I am not sure how they do it. Perhaps the animals/birds and I will become friends. 

Today Merlin heard 23 bird species. As usual there were several that were Unlikely in Portland Today.  The Bobolink, Yellow Rumped Warbler, White Throated Sparrow, Dark Eyed Junco, The last three too early for their migration. Also, Wild Turkey. I heard a Herring Gull and Wild Turkey came up. Then Herring Gull. I think this was a missed ID. So maybe the other time was the same. I still think they can get here from Canco Woods. 

As I was eating my breakfast, I could hear a robin. I was in my condominium. Then a Red Eyed Vireo. Man, I think I am getting good. My hearing is getting super tuned in! I pocket started the Merlin recording. The Cardinal Rule is don't take yourself to seriously! 

Red Eyed Vireo

6:35 to 7:25am, 68 degrees, Clear, Wind 5mph SSW

I can not say for sure if this is a Red Eyed Vireo or not from this picture. This is a very cropped picture. It was on the far side of The Little Forrest and high up. I am really happy that I was able to see this bird and another. About the time this bird Came into The Little Forrest, Merlin started identifying the Res Eyed Vireo. I do not know for sure but I am going to think so. The vireo was definitely the star singer this morning. Starting high on the east side and moving across to the west. Maybe ten or fifteen minutes of consistent calls across The Little Forrest.

It would have been easy to miss the bird in the picture. My vision in The Little Forrest is improving. More in tune with the place and its movements. At one point I heard a jay, looked up saw a bird in the spot I thought it came from. It quickly dropped and glided out of sight. It is hard to see in The Little Forrest. Sun and shade are always close together. The Sun did not hit the floor where I was sitting until 7:10, An hour and twenty minutes after sunrise. I saw several other birds flitting about. They were consistent size/shape with the song birds I heard. Still hard to identify in the shade and inconsistent light of The Little Forrest.

Merlin heard 22 different species. Only two had the red dot. Northern House Wren and Eastern Towhee. The towhee use to be called the rufous sided towhee. A much more fun sounding name to my ears. Also, heard the Red Breasted Nuthatch again. Still in the unlikely in Portland mode. September it looks likely. 
 

Practice Makes Progress

 

4:00 to 5:00pm, 74 degrees, Sunny, Wind 5mph SE

Not the best shot of this Downey Woodpecker. However, I saw the Downey! The time spent in my sit spot is paying off. I am seeing more and more birds. I saw my first Goldfinch. After all the noise they make it was nice to finally see one. I saw a Cedar Waxwing, a Black Capped Chickadee, most likely a Tufted Titmouse and crows. The waxwing was maybe twenty feet from me and it was still hard to see and identify in the dappled sunlight. It is quite possible birds have been doing this the whole time and I have just not seen them. Also possible, that the birds have gotten used to me. Or maybe, the bird feeder is bringing them in. It is now clear the seed level is going down. Maybe all of the above. No matter what the cause I am seeing more birds. Practice makes progress. 

The Crows making a ruckus again! They do not live in The Little Forrest. However, they will fly over and through from time to time when chasing something off. I think they live in Chevrus Woods. That is where their calls seem to originate the most. Today some flew through the understory. Always fun when that happens. They were making a general ruckus for a while. I heard what I though was a raven.(No Merlin conformation) Then the chase was on! I could see 5 crows on the other side of the little woods chasing something. Seconds later a large crow or perhaps a raven came through the understory and perched. It looked furtive. Tucked in tight dense leaves. No calls. Then it was gone and the crows calls ended. Did I see crows chase off a raven? I am not sure. However I think that is what happened. Crows and ravens are not friendly. 

The Goldfinches were really active at one point during my sit. Mostly I hear them off to the east, my right. I could here them moving around the canopy in Old Red. I could see birds flying about the canopy. Mostly, near the upper branches of Old Red. Never seeing one directly, for even one second. Moving between the branches and leaves as Goldfinches will. Are the getting closer or am I getting batter at seeing into The Little Forrest? Some of both I suspect. Practice makes progress. 

Merlin heard twenty species. How many where there? I do not know. It heard four woodpeckers Hairy, Pileated, Red Bellied(Not likely in Portland today) and Downey. I saw the Downey! Several were new to The Little Forrest: The Hairy, Eastern Bluebird, Chimney Swift. All unlikely in Portland today. Not a red dot though. So maybe. 

Ominous Skies

 6:00 to 6:45am, 66 degrees, 100% Clouds, W 8mph S

Storms a coming! Did not go out for sunrise because the conditions were not conducive to good pictures. Went to the sit spot a little after sunrise.(6:47am) This is usually one of the most active times for bird song. There was some good song this morning. Goldfinches leading the way, less Cardinals than usual. I am seeing better into the Little Forrest. I saw a few birds this morning up in the canopy. 

I saw what I think was a Blue Jay. Light was not good. It started up high on the other side of the Crick. Moved over to the high eastern branches of Pinky. (White Oak side) Then lower in the middle somewhere. Flitted behind the trunk and was on some of the lower west branches in front of the trunk. Stopping at each spot and checking things out. It was a somewhat circular motion around the bird feeder. The feeder is to the east of Pinky and below their branches. Then it was gone off to the west. I think the seed is going down. It reminded me of the Downey Woodpecker yesterday. 23 has a new suet cake out. It came down from the east. I heard it over there. I believe it flew behind me before landing on one of Pinky's dead branches. Lower west side. Then to the bush in front of the suet. Checking to see if it is safe before going to the feeder. I suspect the Blue Jay? knew I was there. I sit maybe fifteen feet to the east of it. 

Many mysteries in The Little Forrest. At one point the crows were crowing off in Chevrus Woods. Several swooped in through the understory. A squirrel was agitated and calling an alarm in the red maple just outside the tree line. (Merlin Thinks this is a Mallard) It went on for some time. Maybe a hawk, owl, or eagle. Who knows. Perhaps, if I sit enough some of the mysteries will reveal themselves. 

Merlin Identified 17 species. Mallard was a missed guess. That was a squirrel. Perhaps the Junco is an early one. I think the Red Bellied Woodpecker was there. 

Winter is Coming!

 

10:15 to 11:30, 68 degrees, Cloudy, Wind 6mph ESE

So far one of the coolest sit spots, especially for the time of day. Merlin heard a few birds that should not be here for another few weeks or a month. Dark Eyed Junco, Red Breasted Nuthatch, White Throated Sparrow. They could be early arrivals. They could be wrong guesses. Either way, winter is coming. 

I am definitely seeing better into The Little Forrest. I saw this Blue Jay and never heard its cry. A very cropped picture. Way up in a tree on the other side of The Crick. By the time Merlin heard a Blue Jay this one was long gone from my sight. How many birds have gone through my line of sight without me seeing them? I saw many more birds today than any other day! Yes, it was longer than any other sit spot. However, it was longer because I was seeing birds! I was able to get pictures of this Jay, a White Breasted Nuthatch and a Downey Woodpecker. 

At one point I heard a hawk on the wind above The Little Forrest. I am not sure how I knew it was a hawk but I knew it was a hawk. Not sure I have heard enough hawks while seeing them for this knowledge. Micah Mortali, often talks about ancestral knowledge. Perhaps this is how I knew. Eventually, Merlin showed a red tailed hawk. Likely in Portland today! That was a really cool experience. Getting in tune with my spot and nature in a way I have not before. 

I also heard a Great Blue Heron on high flying from the south (Back Cove) to the north. (perhaps Sebago Lake) I heard and knew before Merlin showed Great Blue Heron. Also, I could hear it after Merlin stopped lighting it up. While the heron and hawk did not stop in The Little Forrest, I count them on the bird list as they are here: visibly and audibly.  

Motion

 4:45 to 5:30, 78 degrees, Partly cloudy, Wind 2mph SSW, 

The birds were fairly quiet, as they are at this time of the day. Eleven bird species, only one not in Portland today. The American Redstart. Played the recording and it matches. 

The squirrels were about as active as I have ever seen them be. Part of that, I suspect, is that I am getting better at picking up motion. Or maybe a better way of saying what is happening is " I am seeing motion caused by animals/birds better." The Little Forrest is in constant motion from the wind. I noticed motion in the ferns down by The Crick. I really wanted it to be not a squirrel. The animal was not hopping like a squirrel. However, whenI got a good look: Squirrel! It is the first time I noticed this behavior. I suspect it has been happening and I have just not picked up on it. At one point I saw the motion of a shadow go through the Little Woods. Then crow calls. Was it a crow that flew over? Probably. 

Flicker!

8:45 to 9:15, 69 degrees, Clear Skies, Wind 9mph NW

With the wind and the shade of the trees it felt cooler than 69. Gusts would sometimes blow drops of water off the leaves. A storm came through yesterday afternoon. Bird feeder was turned a bit. No doubt it was from the storm. Hard to tell if the seed level has gone down. 

I am definitely getting better at telling the different types of motion. The wind moves the trees a certain way. Motion throughout the Little Forrest. A squirrel will make one branch move. Or several branches if it is jumping from one place to another, a more localized motion. I saw some motion up high across The Crick and to my right. My first thought was squirrel. However it was not moving like a squirrel. Then it was clear that it was moving like a woodpecker. I figured Merlin was going to give me Downey Woodpecker soon. I heard some interesting calls and looked down to see Northern Flicker. (Not likely in Sit Spot today) I played back the merlin tape and all 11 calls on Merlin. It definitely could have been a flicker. So I am counting it. 

Merlin heard 16 different species today. 

Nest?

 8:45 to 9:15am, 68 degrees, drizzle to part sunny, Wind 3mph W

When I got to the sit spot, there was a squirrel coming down Old Red. The squirrel had a small branch with leaves on it. I know squirrels use leaves in building their nests. Their nests are called dreys. So far I have only seen grey squirrels here. Was this nest building behavior? Do squirrels like oak leaves better than maple leaves. Those are the predominated trees in the Little Forrest. I guess it will be easier to find nests in the Little Forrest when the leaves fall. 

Not a lot going on this morning. There was some construction going on off behind house number 1. Big earth moving equipment sounding noises. So, things were kind of subdued. The construction noises overpowered the bird sounds. At one point the goldfinches sounded closer than they have ever been before. 

Merlin identified 10 species. Nothing new or not likely in Portland today. Saw a couple of birds flying high and cruising over the Little Forrest. Only caught glances of them as they passed on the wind.

Oops! forgot

 7:00 to 7:45 am, 68 degrees, cloudy, wind 4mph NW

Forgot to write up yesterdays sit spot. The goldfinches were more active again. I have only been at it for a month or so. It is possible they were active like this before I started sitting. They sounded lower at one point yesterday. At one point I thought about moving so that I could see around Pinky. So far, when I hear birds I remain in my seat. Even If I think I can see a bird if I get up and move a bit. 

There was a human moving around the yard in house number 2. It is hard to see the house because there is a dense spot of vegetation at the top of the gully where their lot is. It looks like there are some vines going up the trees at the back of their property. At different times of the day, there are different activities going on in and around The Little Forrest.  Thinking about a trail camera. 

I think the birds have found the bird feeder. I did not fill it to the top when I put it out. That would have been helpful in hindsight. It does have some lines, that I am now paying attention to. More will be revealed!

East End Bird List

 Osprey

Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Great Egret

Northern Mocking Bird

Cedar Waxwing

Northern Yellow Warbler

Canada Goose

American Crow

Semipalmated Plover

Song Sparrow

Grey Catbird

Black Capped Chickadee

Spotted Sandpiper

American Goldfinch

Mallard

Forster's Tern 

Arctic Tern

American Herring Gull

Blue Jay

Northern Harrier 

Baird's Sandpiper

American Robin

Common Tern

Cormorant 

Chimney Swift

American Kestrel 

Red Winged Blackbird

Ring Billed Gull

Least Sandpaper

House Finch

Goldfinches Everywhere and Then Nothing

 5:00 to 5:40 pm, 81 degrees, some clouds, Wind 12 mph NW, Humidity 46%

It was the coolest feeling 81 in a long time. Wind and lower humidity was nice. In the first five minutes only Goldfinches, Blue Jay, and Song Sparrow.  Goldfinches are usually off to the right towards Fall Brook. And that is where I heard them first, in the distance. Then some off to my left almost as if they were doing call and response. And for a minute or so the entire canopy of the Little Forrest was lit up in goldfinch song. I kept expecting to see them explode through the canopy and fill the understory. Unfortunately, they remained high in the canopy. Around ten minutes in there was an agitated squirrel off towards Fall Brook. Then the bird sounds stopped for close to twenty minutes. Nothing not a distant crow, not a transient seagull, nor geese honking on high.  What set the squirrel and birds on alert? I do not know. Many such mysteries in the Little Forrest.

There were however some exciting new discoveries. There was activity at the Barrow's house! (Not their name, but it could be.) I have decided that is their name because the have a wheel barrow in the yard across the gully, that has the crick in it. Across the gully there are four single family homes I can see. The Barrow's have a golden retriever. Also, a daughter? who was weeding and looking at her phone. Much of society thinks humans are not part of nature. We are part of nature and shape it in many way both intentionally and unintentionally. 

I cannot imagine what The Little Forrest looked like as old growth forest. It looks as if at one point the gulley was clear cut. No Little Forrest, however the Crick would have been there. It looks as if some of the trees were there before the condominiums were built. Certainly Pinky and Old Red were there. Most of the other tress I have come to know seem much younger than fifty years. The Little Forrest has come to be mostly through neglect. Not a bad thing! Nature abhors a vacuum. Something will happen even if you do nothing! I have much curiosity about my sit spot. More will be revealed!

A Murder.......Of Crows

 7:15 to 8:00am, 66 degrees, Cloudy, Wind 4mph WNW, 

Wow! Were the crows agitated this morning. While I often hear crows in my sit spot they are usually a bit away. They don't live in the Little Forrest. mostly sound like they are in Chevrus Woods or Canco Woods. This morning they were directly above, also left and right above. They were not happy. Perhaps, there was a murder of a crow and they were chasing the killer off. It was five minutes before Merlin heard another bird. Nothing but agitated crows. At ten minutes they calmed and I thought move on. They were clearly still there and communicating for a while. I would hear one over by Fall Brook, then one overhead, then one off to my left, and then one back towards Chevrus Woods. Not sure what happened but it was interesting to hear the calls go from outside the Little Forrest, through it, then out the other side. 

Merlin said 18 different species. Indigo Bunting and Wood Duck were new. Also, not likely in Portland today. Both could enjoy The Little Forrest and its surroundings. I am going to Scarborough Audubon tomorrow and will ask about how to tell if Merlin is correct. 

Orientation to Place

 1:20 to 2:00, 82 degrees, Partly Cloudy, 56% humidity, Wind 8 mph W

Not much seems to happen on a hot afternoon. I have not been doing it long enough to know for sure. However, Jon Young says, in What the Robin Knows,  it is a quiet time of day. That has been my lived experience so far. 

My sit spot is just inside the tree line not far from the parking area for the condominiums. There was a noticeable change in temperature just stepping off the black top. And again, a drop in temperature when I stepped inside the tree line. Today, I pulled out a compass and found that I sit facing due north. I sit overlooking a gully and facing perpendicular to the crick. Fall Crick starts in the west and drops to the east and hits Fall Brook before turning south and running down to Back Cove of Casco Bay. There was a farm here until the 1980's when the condominiums were built. Some of the trees in the gully are probably older than the condominiums. 

The first people to show up on this land showed up about 12,000 years ago. After the ice sheets retreated. Some were as thick as 5,000 feet. The ocean was much further away at that point in time. The first peoples here were known as the People of the Dawn. What happened between the People of the Dawn and now will require some research. I would like to know who owned the farm for starters. 

One interesting thing did happen during my sit. Merlin heard a Great Horned Owl! (Not likely in Portland today) Then The Little Forrest got silent. Now, I did not hear an owl. It is a low activity time of day for the birds in The Little Forrest. This is now the second time this has happened. Who knows? 

Morning Chorus

 5:35 to 6:20 am, 71 degrees, Cloudy, Wind 4mph from the SW, 

Went out for the morning chorus. Usually the time song birds are most boisterous. 18 species this morning. Lately, I have been chasing sunrises, so I have not been in the sit spot. It is a great time to go out especially on a Saturday(today) or a Sunday. The humans have not yet woken and disturbed the little forrest. I heard a woodpecker pecking for the first time in my sit spot this morning. It sounded like it was coming from over in Canco Woods. Probably, one of the larger ones. I see and hear downey woodpeckers in the little woods. However ,when I see them peck on the trees they do not make the distinctive woodpecker pecking noise. 

In the quiet, I heard a red shouldered hawk. Up and away to my right and behind. Clear calls as it passed over the little woods. Perhaps it was communicating with another heading to far off places. Not the only new bird this morning. I heard a bobolink. Which surprised me. It has a very distinctive call. It sounds like bob-o-link hard to miss. It is a grassland bird. Not really enough open grassland around the little woods for a bobolink to have as its home. Also new to the little woods, Eastern Phoebe, and Eastern Pewee

Not Much Happening

 5:45 to 6:10, 81 degrees, Partly Cloudy, Wind 5mph SSE 

Really quiet in the sit spot tonight. This is definitely the latest I have been out. This could be normal for this time of day. Only five bird species. No Northern Cardinal, usually the first bird I hear. Also, the bird I hear most often. Had a long day and did not want to go out and sit. Glad I did even if it was not exciting. I am super tired. No signs that the bird feeder has been "found". There were more mosquitoes than I have experienced  before.  

I heard some goldfinches off towards Fall Brook, however Merlin was not picking them up. My hearing and distinguishing birds is getting much better. Eventually, Merlin picked up the goldfinches. Many times I have no idea what the bird calls are. There is an old lobsterman I know, Jerry. He has Shanghaied me a few times when he was desperate for a sternman. As I would learn something he would say "Petit a petit, L'oiseau constuit son nid." Little by little the bird builds it's nest. Seems appropriate to remember that now. 

A little Bit Uncomfortable

 

10:30 to 11:00am 81 degrees, Sunny, Wind 2mph out of the East

Walking across the parking area was much hotter than the advertised 81. It felt much better in the little woods than out in the open. Usually a pretty quite time of day. Merlin Identified 11 species of birds. Only one out of the ordinary. A pileated woodpecker, beautiful birds. There was a mourning dove above me. which is not usual. I heard what I thought was a dove flying off to  the left. The dove's normal spot. When I looked down at Merlin, Pileated WoodPecker had been added. Merlin says not likely today. I have however seen one very close to here. I was in Payson Park and took a picture of one in someone's yard. So they are here sometimes. It is a bird much more associated with deep woods. I always think of Shenandoah National Park. Man do they make some noise there.

I heard some white breasted nuthatches squawking up a storm. They started back over by the island. Not sure of this behavior.  At one point one was on the island and one was in Pinky. (white side) I saw the one in Pinky for a moment! It was exciting as most of the birds stay up in the overstory. I can not see them there.

Not sure what kind of wasp that is but it made me uncomfortable. It was over an inch long! Look at that stinger!

Bird List for Sit Spot

 Mostly these are birds IDed from Merlin but some I saw and Merlin did not hear.

1 Coopers Hawk

2 Ruby Throated Hummingbird

3 Grey Catbird

4 Downy Woodpecker

5 American Crow

6 Robin

7 Black Capped Chickadee 

8 Northern Cardinal

9 American Gold Finch

10 House Finch

11 House sparrow

12 Song Sparrow

13 Blue Jay

14 Canadian Goose

15 Common Grackle

16 Killdeer

17 Great Horned Owl

18 Gadwall 

19 Common Raven

20 Hermit Thrush

21 Red Breasted Nuthatch

22 Red Bellied Woodpecker

23 Short Billed Dowitcher

24 Osprey

25 Veery

26 Wood Thrush

27 Eastern Kingbird

28 Belted Kingfisher 

29 European Starling

30 White Throated Sparrow

31 White Breasted Nuthatch

32 Swamp Sparrow

33 Northern Mockingbird

34 Mourning Dove

35 Eastern Towhee

36 Cedar Waxwing

37 Red Winged Blackbird

38 Carolina Wren

39 European Greenfinch

40 American Redstart

41 Spotted Towhee

42 Northern House Wren

43 Red Eyed Vireo

44 Tufted Titmouse

45 Chipping Sparrow

46 Pileated Woodpecker  

47 Red Shouldered Hawk

48 Eastern Phoebe 

49 Eastern Wood Pewee

50 Bobolink 

51 Wood Duck

52 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 

53 Indigo Bunting

54 American Herring Gull

55 Northern Flicker

56 Mallard

57 Red Tailed Hawk

58 Wild Turkey

59 Eastern Bluebird

60 Hairy Woodpecker

61 Chimney Swift

62 Baltimore Oriole

63 Bald Eagle 

64 Brown Thrasher

65 Brown Creeper

66 Great Egret

67 Broad-winged Hawk 

68 Yellow-rumped Warbler

69 Common Yellowthroat 

Sitting Behind the Dumpster

 My sit spot is indeed behind the dumpster. The spot is just beyond the part that is mowed. So I sit in the little woods that are there. My guess is they are about 150 feet deep. Houses on the other side of an intermittent creek bed. (the crick) The crick is about 20 feet lower than the dumpster. It is high to my left than to my right. The largest trees are red and white oak. The little woods go about a quarter mile to the left. However on the right it meets up with Fall Brook in about two hundred yards. Fall brook goes through Canco Woods and a good ways up (3 miles?) the Presumspcot River Valley. It also travels about a half mile to Back Cove. Back Cove is part of Casco Bay. A surprising amount of stuff goes on back there. I need to make a bird list. One morning Merlin heard 22 different species. Probably close to 40 altogether in about a month. 

Today 81 degrees, cloudy, wind 4mph out of the southeast.  2:30 to 3:15 

Afternoon is not the time birds sing the most. Merlin heard ten different species in my forty five minutes. It does not always hear birds that travel through. I saw a ruby throated humming bird one time. (No Merlin) A hawk came cruising through this afternoon and it was moving at a good clip. From left to right. Maybe five to ten feet below me and fifty or so feet in front. I saw it for a second or two. My guess is that it was a coopers hawk. (Merlin says not likely in Portland today) It is really cool to be that close to a raptor and above! (No Merlin)

Rainy Day

 12:30 to 1:00, 72 degrees overcast, Wind at 10 mph from the south.

Not a lot going on in the sit spot today. I heard maybe six different bird species on Merlin. The usual suspects. Cardinal, Jay, Crow, Gold Finch, Catbird, Downey Woodpecker, House Finch. This guy was less than five feet from me at one point. He did not seem disturbed by me at all. Slowly building little thread of relationships with the creatures in my little woods. 

It rained enough that there was visible moving water in the little crick. First time I saw that. We definitely need the rain after a dry July. 

I also went out about 6:00 am in a slight drizzle. Was there for 10 minutes and not one bird sound. Do birds sleep in when it rains? 

Quiet!

2:30 to 3:00 pm, 81 degrees, Wind out of the south at 12mph gusts to 17mph.

Not much happening in the sit spot this afternoon.  It did not help that I was blundering about putting up a bird feeder. I only heard two birds. A  crow off behind me a ways and a mourning dove off to my left, where they usually are. Even the squirrels were quiet. Only saw one. 

 I suspect I would have heard more birds if it had been less windy. 12mph sustained winds make quite a bit of noise moving through my little woods. I wonder how long it will take for the birds to find the feeder. 

It is supposed to start raining before sunrise tomorrow. Perhaps I will sit in the rain in the morning. I have not spent much time in this spot before. I wonder what the normal flow rate for the crick is. July was the third driest on record for Portland. Would be interesting to see what happens if we got some consistent rain. 

Squirrels!

 This morning there was a lot of squirrel activity. One agitated for a while across Fall Crick. Another came down a tree to my right and a little behind. It let me know personally it was not happy with me. When I raised the camera it took off. The animals and birds know when you are pointing something at them. There is one that comes down the red/white oak and watches me and is okay with me it seems. 

 The red/white oak is actually two trees, a red oak and a white oak. There bases are almost touching and for animals/birds it essentially functions as one tree. thus the red/white oak. Perhaps I should call it the pink oak. Each trunk is amongst the largest in my little riparian forest. 

 Way more squirrel activity this morning. Some of that is due to getting better at spotting them off at a distance. I suspect some are getting used to me in my sit spot. Two were playing follow the leader. they came running up and down the Pink Oak a few times. The Pink Oak is maybe fifteen feet off to my left and a bit forward. One squirrel was eating and dropping acorns behind and to my right. I suspect it was the one that came down the tree to let me know it was unhappy. 

 I heard something off to my left and low towards the ground. Animal like, perhaps breathing. I turned to look and see what this was. It was a catbird making a sound at me. It knew where I was far before i figured it out. 23 has a feeder.  Getting better at picking up sounds. Merlin did not register the sound. 

Also cool, Three crows cruised through my little woods from over my left shoulder and out through the woods on the right. Through the understory so I got to see them. The crows are usually up high, not easily seen as they pass through.