American robin.

This day had no clouds in it. None that I saw, anyway—just a ripe, rich, empty blue. Step outside, though, and you were liable to get blown away.

European starlings.

Yesterday’s winds might’ve been stronger, and of course snow was involved. But the wind today had a clean, raw, bone-biting quality to it. Plus, it was coming from a slightly different direction, maybe north-northwest. Jack and I kept out of it for most of the day—most of my birding I did from the back deck, where I saw robins and starlings and heard chickadees—but we braved the chill at the end of it, as is our custom.

Fine, dry snow had filled the low spots on the trail, so a little slogging was involved, but mostly we crunched along on hard, icy pack. The snow patterns were interesting. I saw a distant herring gull soaring out toward the bay, the only bird on my Beech List Hill today.

Tonight a half moon is setting over the hill out back, with Jupiter tagging along nearby.

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

1. Herring gull

Elsewhere

2. American robin
3. American crow
4. European starling

*Also elsewhere