Warm Weather, Cold Birding

Entry 1 - March 10th | 9:05pm

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Dear Diary,

Today, I woke up exhausted. I barely cracked my eyes open before a European Starling started chattering away right outside my window. This makes me think that they’re going to nest in the gutters again, not surprising. Half-asleep, I grabbed my phone and checked Merlin to see my Bird of the Day, and lo and behold it was the very culprit outside my window.

Figures. What a way to start my morning.

After pulling myself together and eating breakfast, I grabbed my camera and binoculars and stepped outside. SPRING IS FINALLY HERE! The warm air hit me as soon as I walked out, and I just stood there for a moment, taking it all in.

I decided to head into the woods behind my house for my first stop. The second I stepped in, a titmouse called out, “PETER-PETER-PETER!” I couldn’t help but laugh. I appreciate the greeting, little one, but my name’s not Peter. I continued on and was met with a familiar sound, the first Red-winged Blackbird of the year, singing its heart out from a small patch of phragmites along the trail. The trail went quiet until about halfway through, where I decided to stop and pish. Pishing doesn’t usually work in my favor, but today, it surprised me. After just a couple of pishes, I was suddenly surrounded by two Black-capped Chickadees, two Tufted Titmice, two White-breasted Nuthatches, and a single Brown Creeper. And let me tell you, hearing that Brown Creeper sing completely boosted my mood. The rest of the trail was quiet, and by the time I made it back home, I had tallied 11 species. https://ebird.org/checklist/S217704992

I hopped in my car and headed to my next destination, Beckman’s Island. As I arrived, I was greeted by the wonderful singing of Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, and Brown-headed Cowbirds. The tide had just started to go out, leaving the entrance to the island muddy and slick. Unfortunately, it was a slow day for birds on the island, with no real highlights and I ended up with only 8 species. https://ebird.org/checklist/S217713773

My next stop was the Seabrook Town Forest, where I hoped to spice up my day a bit. As I arrived, a Turkey Vulture teetered overhead near the entrance. I started down the trail, but like most of my walks today… silence. The pond was still frozen over, so there weren’t any waterfowl to scan for either. Eventually, I made my way to the power line cut-through, where a lone Song Sparrow popped out of a small bush. I couldn’t help but feel for this little guy. Alone in the freshly trimmed clearing, I wondered why he was by himself. He was surprisingly cooperative, so I sat with him for a moment, taking his picture. Continuing along the path, I heard a few titmice and chickadees calling in the distance. As I neared the Water Department at the end of the trail, I suddenly found myself in the middle of a flock of robins. 25 to 30 of them on either side of the path, flying back and forth, calling to one another. It was pretty cool to stand there and just take it all in. On my way back to the car, the trail had fallen quiet again. Once I got in, I decided to take a break and return at sunset to look for American Woodcocks. For now, I had finished with 14 species here at the Town Forest. https://ebird.org/checklist/S217725983

Around 6:30 p.m., I set out for my final trip of the day, returning to the Town Forest to look for American Woodcocks. They’ve just arrived back for the warmer months, and I’ve had luck finding them in the power line cut-through before, so I was hoping they’d be back. As soon as I arrived, I headed straight to the cut-through and sat in silence as the sun set, waiting for that unmistakable PEENT. While I waited, a flock of Wood Ducks and Mallards flew overhead, and I even heard my little Song Sparrow buddy calling from the same spot. I hope he finds a mate. It was getting dark, and I started heading back, thinking I was out of luck on the Woodcocks. But just as I was walking down the trail, one suddenly flushed from the side of the path. It startled me, but I couldn’t help feeling excited to know they were back. It was too dark to follow, so I continued on, accepting the flush as a small victory.

Until… PEENT!

The call echoed across the pond, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my day.

It was a warm, pleasant day for weather, but a cold, quiet one for birding.