Wet.

As promised, the rain came. Was raining when I rose—not hard, but steady—and temperature were hovering in the 40s (F). Snow had gone slushy already. Heard jays out there. And crows.

Windy.

Got busy doing desk work and didn’t make it out until kind of late. More daylight to work with, but still. Wasn’t exactly eager to get all wet and slushy. But that’s just what we did, me and dog. I brought snowshoes, but so much snow had melted, I decided I wouldn’t need them. And I didn’t need them. But I sure could’ve used them on a couple or three stretches of trail—stretches where deep drifts had gone soft, and my feet broke through the slush into liquid water, and my jeans legs got soaked.

At least it wasn’t cold.

But it sure was windy. I’m talking 40-mile-an-hour winds from the southeast. A couple small patches of heavy rain passed over, and the wind-whipped rain stung my face. Kept to the trail edges, where the wet snow was shallow, and got my boot hung up in the twine between the posts. Nearly toppled over but somehow caught myself.

Jack was amused.

Tonight it’s still wet and drippy out. Will be interesting to see what the world looks like in the light of day tomorrow.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1.  Black-capped Chickadee**

Elsewhere

2. Blue Jay (v)
3. American Crow (v)

v = Voice only
**Voice only elsewhere