Jack on the trail.

The sky spit snow for some of the day. None stuck here at Clam Cove, but at the Beech Hill trail—my only trip out with dog—you could see evidence of it. More noticeable, though, was the wind. A stout, strong, buffeting wind that caused the bare hardwood branches to resound with squeaks and trills. Several times I thought I heard the voices of birds but the faint sounds turned out to come from the squeaking, buffeted branches. I felt confident enough only to list a hairy woodpecker and a brown creeper. (The creeper was kind of iffy, though, I must confess.)

Then the clearing came. In evening, Venus and the moon danced together in the southwest sky. Jupiter attempted to cut in.

A strong wind blows still, and up the hill out back, the branches clatter.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Hairy woodpecker
2. Brown creeper

Elsewhere

3. American crow
4. House finch
5. Herring gull