You rarely hear me complain about the weather. Strong Nor’Easter? No problem, I’m out seawatching. Blizzard? Great feeder-watching followed by cross-country skiing. Heat like we’re seeing now? That’s when I get cranky!

94 degrees in Portland yesterday was a new record high, and we’re already into the 90’s this morning. Plus, high humidity. Yuck. This is the weather that limits my birding!

Our Tuesday outing yesterday was limited to a 1 ½ hour walk at the Pineland Public Reserve Land in New Gloucester. It was rather productive however, including 8 singing Blackburnian Warblers, 4 Winter Wrens, and 2 Wood Thrushes (I can’t remember hearing Wood Thrushes in this woodland before, and it surprised me considering how heavily coniferous it is). A Magnolia Warbler was also still singing – this bird seems to be quite a bit more common locally (one is still singing in our backyard as well) this summer. Also, this park seems to have one of the highest densities of Black-throated Green Warblers that I have ever encountered!

The heat actually sent us inside on a Tuesday – a rare event indeed. We went to the movies – also a very rare event – in Falmouth, which produced sighting of Fish Crows in the parking lot, making rounds of their favorite dumpsters. We also visited the Casco Bay Bridge Peregrine Falcons – saw the female and heard the youngster – but more as an excuse to visit Beale Street BBQ in South Portland!

This morning I hit Hedgehog Mountain Park for another short walk with Sasha. Although birdsong has definitely decreased overall in these dig-days of summer, the woods are now getting noisier with the begging cries of baby birds. Many species are now feeding youngsters, and some species are already fledging. This morning, I encountered juvenile Wood Thrushes, Chipping Sparrows, and Tufted Titmice, for example. Also, I took a moment to count the Cliff Swallows at the transfer station. I believe there are 7 pairs there this summer.