Robinson Woods (I, II and III)

On April 12 my wife was walking in Robinson Woods and saw what had to be one of the first osprey’s spotted around Cape this spring.

I was particularly excited about my seasons first Northern Waterthrush, spotted along the pond margins of Robinson Woods II.

I have also seen and heard many Veery’s and Wood Thrushes calling consistently right now across the green belt system and Robinson Woods II & I. Thrushes are often a tricky bird to identify, especially when you consider the other Thrushes passing through our forests right now, including the Swainson’s Thrush…

Early July yielded some rather oppressive days to be deep in the woods, alas from the depths of Robinson Woods II & III I heard and saw encouraging numbers of Black-throated Green Warblers.

On Aug. 31 I found a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher deep within Robinson Woods III.

On September 28 a Great Blue Heron was spied stalking its next victim along the emergent wetlands of Robinson Woods II.

The threadlike high-pitched call notes of the Golden-crowned Kinglet rings through Robinson Woods and the chatter of Tufted Titmice and White-breasted Nuthatches busying themselves for the coming winter months is hard to ignore.

Time spent in Robinson Woods on the same day yielded good numbers of one of my favorite forest denizens, the Brown Creeper.

On Dec. 31 while exploring the fringes of a wintery Robinson Woods I had stopped to point out animal tracks to my son when suddenly I felt a superbly light dusting of snow tickle my face.

Later in the week around 10:00pm I could faintly make out the rolling hoots of a single Great-horned somewhere deep within Robinson Woods.

Late in the afternoon on March 15 while wandering in Robinson Woods I, a Barred owl was heard.

Other noteworthy mentioning’s include the First of Year (FOY) Hermit Thrush, Swamp Sparrow and Pine Warbler on April 11 in Robinson Woods III.

The following day my wife spotted her first of year male Belted Kingfisher along the fringes of Robinson Woods III / Pond Cove.

The 5th of May brought a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher to the fringes of Robinson Woods.

I have also seen and heard many Veery’s calling consistently right now across the Green belt system and Robinson Woods II & III.

Over the last several weeks I have traversed much of Robinson Woods I, II and III listening for birds.

I also heard an Eastern Wood-Peewee calling deep within Robinson Woods.

A few observations over the last two weeks include Great crested Flycatchers calling at twilight deep within Robinson Woods I and a common yellowthroat female with daughter exploring the haunts surrounding a crab apple tree in our yard.

On August 28 I found a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher deep within Robinson Woods III.

On September 7 there were more than a couple Brown Creepers singing in Robinson woods.

For an instant my mind drifted back to a warm, late spring morning deep within Robinson Woods when the relaxed buzzy, I-am-so-la-zee song of the Black-throated Blue rang out from the birch, pine, hemlock, spruce and fir trees.

Time spent in Robinson Woods during the middle half of November yielded good numbers of one of my favorite forest denizens, the Brown Creeper.

Later this same evening I heard two rather brief cackles from a Barred Owl deep in Robinson Woods.

As this bird is locally common to Cumberland County, one could find it breeding in certain local areas, such as the massive stands of stately white pine and hemlock trees deep within Robinson Woods.

I counted nine Pine Warblers within Robinson Woods III, and two male “Yellow” Palm Warblers (with bright rust caps) and a single, boisterous Ruby-crowned Kinglet foraging along a pasture trail in Robinson Woods I. While the Pine Warbler most likely breeds in Cape’s coniferous forests…

On April 19 I heard a Barred Owl vocalizing in mid-day in Winnick Woods and later that evening a pair of Barreds Caterwauling in Robinson Woods III.

The single Broad-winged I spotted over Robinson Woods may have been one of the two-hundred and fifty four Broad-winged Hawks reported that day from the summit of Bradbury Mountain State Park.

On a related note, in the twilight hours of June 2, while walking in Robinson Woods III, I was startled by a sudden burst of wild song - a medley of hurried, warbling notes coming from a bird fluttering some thirty feet above me.

Additionally, on June 18 I found three Barred Owl fledglings hissing on a snag high above the vernal pool within the Canter Lane easement portion of Robinson Woods I. Shortly thereafter I heard one Great horned Owl fledgling begging from the depths of Cranbrook.

That said, on one of the last days of June, I spotted a large, dark-backed flycatcher sallying out to catch insects high above the pond in Robinson Woods III.

After dusk in late July through August, the dreamy tune of Eastern Wood Peewees can still be heard among the whispering trees deep within Robinson Woods.

Observations over the first two weeks of September include, on the 5th within Robinson Woods, six American Redstarts, three Wood Duck youths, a Belted Kingfisher, two Eastern Wood-Peewees, one female Black-throated Blue Warbler and several Cedar Waxwings hawking insects over Pond Cove.

The following day I came across a female Black-and-white warbler taking a bath in a secluded little stream in Robinson Woods.

On many of the early days of October the fall inchworms delicate lines of silken threads glistened throughout Robinson Woods as kinglets and creepers darted about.

On December 10 at dusk in Robinson Woods III my wife spotted the ear-tufted silhouette of a horned owl high up in an old Oak tree.

Lastly, on the late afternoon of February 4 as the snow fell my son and I were walking in Robinson Woods (I) and came upon three Golden-crowned Kinglets singing in an old Black Spruce Tree and from somewhere high overhead came the gurgling croak of a Common Raven.

On February 20 I watched a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers excavating a nest hole in Robinson Woods III.

On the late afternoon of April 6, the bewildering warble of a Winter Wren caught my ear while wandering Robinson Woods.

And just before nightfall on April 25 I was observing a woodcock’s conspicuous display across the field in Robinson Woods when I noticed that a Great-horned owl was also watching the action (and me) from the top branch of an old White Pine Tree.

Other notes from my field journal include on June 29 before sunset along the margins of the field in Robinson Woods III, a Great-horned Owl was spotted being scolded by two Great-crested Flycatchers and on June 30 along the woodland paths in Gull Crest two fledgling American Woodcocks were testing their wings.

Additional mentionings from across town include a male Belted Kingfisher and many Cedar Waxwings sallying and gleaning over the Pond Cove brook corridor in Robinson Woods III, Seven Piping Plovers along Kettle Cove Beach on July 29 and an Artic Tern…

Lastly, on September 11 in Robinson Woods III, I noted a total of twelve Red-breasted Nuthatches, six Cedar Waxwings, a Belted Kingfisher fishing and four young Wood Ducks, their bright red eyes and red and white bills illuminated by last rays of the setting sun.

The autumn Yellow-rumped Warbler migration phenomenon along our coastline continued through October 10 with many hundreds of warblers both high and low across Gull Crest, Robinson Woods, Fort Williams, Crescent Beach State Park and the old White Oak Trees in my yard.

Additionally, on November 7 the waxing gibbous moon, clear skies and very little wind made for the right conditions to hear both a Great Horned Owl (behind town green and a local Barred Owl (fringes of Robinson woods) calling at the same time.

As the bird sat curiously watching me my mind wandered back to warm summer days just before dusk in Robinson Woods III where the haunting songs of Hermit Thrushes fill the still air.

The following afternoon, March 19 within the Robinson Woods II, a Barred Owl called out from its shadowy perch as a Great-blue Heron flew overhead.

In the last week of March through the first couple days of April there was plenty of action around the ponds and streams within Robinson Woods II and III.

As for early April, a few mentionables from the yard and field include, on the afternoon of April 5 I was listening to the wind among the pine trees in Robinson Woods III when the wild warbler of a Winter Wren briefly rang out somewhere deep within the tangles of fallen timber.

On first day of June within the dark forest interior of Robinson Woods I was treated to a dusk chorus of Veery’s, Hermit Thrushes, a Winter Wren, Black-throated Green Warblers, Ovenbirds, Redstarts and Northern Parulas.

Closer to home, on the evening of July 13th I caught not one but two Wood Thrushes calling from the depths of Robinson Woods III.

Throughout August the dreamy tune of Eastern Wood Peewees can still be heard among treetops deep within Robinson Woods.

On the morning of the tropical storm (September 16) I went looking for wind sheltered places deep within Robinson woods where I might be able to see and hear birds.

A few mentionable observations over the last two weeks include, on September 27 Pine Warblers were singing high up within the conifer canopy of Robinson Woods I. Of note, this was the same general location that I typically first hear Pine Warblers singing every spring.

And on February 11 around 10 p.m. I heard a Great-horned Owl calling from somewhere behind Town Hall while a Barred Owl hooted simultaneously deep within Robinson Woods.

Specific to the smallest of these three owls, Aegolius acadicus, I’ve heard more squawks, high-pitched barks and me-ows from Northern Saw-whets during this past, largely snowless winter than the last several including from my own backyard, Two Lights State Park, Robinson Woods and Cresent Beach State Park.

Lack of density combined with our conserved forests like Robinson Woods align with the wood thrushes preferred habitat of deciduous and mixed forest, preferring late-successional upland woodlands with wetlands and a moderately dense shrub layer.

May 21 - Robinson Woods I, II and III – After a big night of migration there were lots of birds.

During the first week of June within the dark forest interior of Robinson Woods I was treated to a dusk chorus of Ovenbirds performing flight songs along with Eastern Wood Peewees and Squawking Great-crested Flycatchers.

In the first two weeks of July, Robinson Woods, Gull Crest, Winnick Woods and along the Cross Hill Trail/Marsh Trail property teemed with Black-throated Greens.

In late July while traversing the sunny upland pastures of Richmond Island I spotted a single eagle heading towards the mainland and in early August just after sunset I came across a single adult perched high up in an old snag along the Pond Cove Brook Corridor section of Robinson Woods III.

Other mentionables from the yard and field during the first week of September include, at dusk on September 4 I was crossing a bridge in Robinson Woods II when a Barred Owl swooped right overhead and disappeared into the shadowy forest ahead.

While wandering along one of CELT’s fantastic new trails in Robinson woods my thoughts were of the Black and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, American Bitterns, Wilson’s Snipe and Marsh Wrens that eluded me this time around.

Additionally on the quiet afternoon of October 12 I came across a Great-horned Owl sunning itself undisturbed, high up in an old pine within Robinson Woods.

Getting one last look from this special bird before winter sets in momentarily brought me back to the warm summer evenings within Robinson Woods where this thrush sings its enchanting tune.

Lastly, on several nights over the last two weeks I have heard Great-horned Owls calling from various locations across Cape Elizabeth including Robinson Woods, the parcel of land behind Town Hall and while cross-country skiing with my son on the back nine of Purpoodock’s golf course.

And on the sunny afternoon of April 10 I went to Robinson Woods in search of a Winter Wren.

On May 13 a Solitary Sandpiper along Pond Cove and along the fringes of Robinson Woods III a female Magnolia Warbler bathing, a Canada Warbler energetically foraging, and a Scarlet Tanager calling.

On the first late afternoon of June within Robinson Woods III I noted 41 different species of birds including four different types of flycatchers, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-bellied, Least and Great Crested.

And on a steamy early July afternoon within a particularly enchanting stand of old forest in Robinson Woods I, only one birdsong pierced the stillness—the persistent, uplifting warble of a Blue-headed Vireo.

Another bird I have enjoyed coming across on several occasions in late July along the Pond Cove Brook Corridor Section of Robinson Woods is the Spotted Sandpiper.

At dusk on August 8, I startled a Great Horned Owl from a known perch at the edge of an overgrown field in Robinson Woods.

On April 22, while admiring the steady trill of Pine Warblers in Robinson Woods III, Hermit Thrushes slipped through the underbrush and a northbound Great Blue Heron bellowed somewhere overhead.

These birds nest in Robinson Woods so listen for their rising and falling “trees trees I love trees” refrain next time you wander into the forest.

Other observations from the latter half of May include a Solitary Sandpiper along Pond Cove on the 13th, and along the fringes of Robinson Woods III, a female Magnolia Warbler bathing, a Canada Warbler energetically foraging and a male Scarlet Tanager.

Lastly, on more than one occasion in late July, while walking through Robinson Woods II and III, I was greeted by the measured songs of the Winter Wren accompanied by Black-throated Green Warblers and Hermit Thrushes.

The following day, September 15, along the pond section of Robinson Woods II, I stood still and watched a Peregrine Falcon perched atop the tip of an old dead pine.