Turkey Vulture.

Got an early jump on things again this warmish, overcast morning—a morning with two or three cardinals singing from trees around my place. One likely reason for the early jump was the fact that there’s a second dog here this weekend, and I was eager to give the two of them some exercise. Also, though, I like to hike Beech Hill solo, and it’s Sunday.

Morning trail.

Encountered a bunch of the usual small birds around the parking lot. A crow somewhere. No snowy owls on the slopes—but some lovely dark skies with morning sun rays flaring through. True, the trail proved a challenge, what with refrozen slush marked by deep footprints from what certainly must’ve been a busy, beautiful Saturday up there. This meant looking down at my feet more than usual.

But on the return trip with the dogs, I happened to glance up and see a Turkey Vulture slapping across the gray sky. A Turkey Vulture! In February?

Welcome to the Anthropocene.

Then, a minute or two later, a flock of robins appeared out of nowhere and lit in a couple of small birch trees beside the trail. They sat there for about thirty seconds before one of them gave a cry and they all flapped away.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 9:15 a.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. Tufted Titmouse
3. American Crow* (v)
4. Turkey Vulture†
5. American Robin*

Elsewhere

6. Northern Cardinal
7. House Finch (v)
8. Herring Gull
9. Mallard (v)

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
†First-of-year bird

American robins.