5.22: Updating this today because I went on an early walk with Dennis, who works on the farm, but who is also what they call here a twitcher - that’s Irish for birder. No Merlin Bird ID app for Dennis, he just walks around and listens and knows what all the birds are. There were a lot of us on the walk so the birds were a little shy I think. But it is quietly glorious to walk around this place as the sun rises. Everything is soft and green and breezy and of course there are birds twittering and singing and flowers and vegetables and fruits a-poppin’. This farm and cooking school is the result of 40 years of careful attention to organic farming principles, listening to the land and the animals and giving them what they need so they can give us what we need - and then make delicious of course!
Cornell owes me a commission for all the people I got on the Merlin Bird ID app today. Anyway, I didn’t see anything I haven’t already spotted, but Dennis seemed impressed that I knew about the warbler migration in New England - I’ve not seen that, he said intensely. It turns out that Dennis is a renowned expert on warblers - people from all over Europe call him with information or questions and he drops everything, like his paintbrush if he is painting your house, and he’s off to see it.
Jokes of the morning:
Dennis, deadpan: That’s a cockerel (a.k.a. rooster).
Me, whispering apologetically to Vicky: That was my stomach growling, not a bird.
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4.28. It’s not just chickens that you hear around here. The dawn chorus is amazing, and I often take a moment when I’m getting up to listen to it and use my handy Merlin app to figure out what I’m hearing. I’ll keep a list here - note to the serious birders, this isn’t a Life List because I’ve not actually seen all of these, just heard ‘em yakking away of a morning.
The first bird up seemingly before it is light is the Eurasian Blackbird which makes me think of Blackbird, choose your fighter.
Bird’s I’ve Heard Of a Morning (as of 5.22)
all the rooks, all the time
Common Chaffinch
(not to be confused with the) Common Chiffchaff
Common Wood Pigeon
European Goldfinch
Song Thrush
European Robin
Goldcrest
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Eurasian Blue Tit
Eurasian Wren
Eurasian Blackcap
Eurasian Blackbird
Eurasian Jackdaw
Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Oystercatcher (really? seems odd to be so far inland this morning)
Birds I’ve Seen With My Very Own Eyes
all the rooks
Whimbrel
Ruddy Turnstone
White Wagtail
Hooded Crow
Song Thrush
Common Wood-Pigeon
Common Chaffinch
Eurasian Blackbird
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Blue Tit
Eurasian Jackdaw
Eurasian Collared Dove
European Robin
European Stonechat
Ring-necked pheasant
Great Tit
Sanderling
Brandt’s Goose
Gray Heron
Barn Swallow
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I won’t send this one around regularly but I’ll update it and you can check back if you are interested.
Look at you. You’re a birder now whether you think so or not. 😍
Lots of birds to see and hear in Maine. Only Bill saw the 🦅 though.