Cap's Ridge Trail on Thursday

[Jerry Kelly]

Thanks to the 6/27 posting by Steve & Jane, we headed up to the Cap's Ridge Trail yesterday for a fine morning of birding. Maryellen and I tried for an early start but somehow didn't get out of the Cap's Ridge parking lot until just after 8 AM. Our trip was pretty much the same route as S & J's trip and we saw just about the same birds, with the exception of the Black-backed woodpecker.

On the way down from the viewing/pothole rocks, we watched an interaction between a Gray Jay and a Bicknell's Thrush that it seemed to be pursuing (and or the Thrush's nest). We saw both birds about 100 feet below the rocks and  just over the trail. After the Jay's initial pursuit, the Thrush spent the next 3-4 minutes chasing and/or evading the Jay. Throughout, the Thrush grasped a grub in its bill, suggesting  it was on a feeding mission. Eventually, the two birds moved down off the trail in the direction of Bretton Woods. We waited and looked for the birds or a possible nest, but no luck. This might be a good location on the trail to look for a Bicknell's, even at noontime when we made our sighting. Good luck and bring the bug spray.

Jerry Kelly

Portsmouth