Seven people turned out to walk around the Highland Green Heath (bog) in Topsham. Weather was great but in general the birds were on the quiet side. Nevertheless the bird highlight was a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak standing on a rock and dancing for a nearby female. He strutted back and forth and put on a real show, first time any of us had seen that. We also had a very cooperative Pileated Woodpecker for all to see. Actually the botany was also a highlight. Many small woodland flowers were in bloom. There was one patch of certainly over a dozen Lady’s Slippers. I have no idea what most were, Steve Reed gave many a name. Following the walk we had a tour of our new home!

The birds seen and heard (H) were:
Mallard – 4
Mourning Dove
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee (H)
Eastern Phoebe (H)
Blue-headed Vireo (H)
Red-eyed Vireo (H)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse (H)
American Robin
Nashville Warbler (H) sang right next to us but could not find
Yellow Warbler (H)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (H)
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat (H)
Chipping Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow (H)
Northern Cardinal (H)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch

A Black-billed Cuckoo was calling in back of our house just after lunch!


Stan DeOrsey