Runoff.
Rained today. Took a road trip to town with Jack. On our way back, the sky opened up, and I had to chuckle at one young family dashing down Main Street and ducking into a store. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a downpour that so defined the term “cloudburst”—not since Texas, possibly.
Wet crow.
But it let up in time for dog and I to grab a quick Beech Hill hike. (Unlike yesterday.) The remnants, though, were clear: a liquid trail, a roaring brook, and the marvel of wind-blown fog.
Again, I expected fewer birds than ended up on my list. In fact, four of the seven were singing: robin, white-throated sparrow, hermit thrush, and towhee (first singing towhees of the year up there). Chickadees and phoebes were relatively quiet—but not the mallard that zipped by overhead, quacking like all get-out.
Love a good rain. Everything’s going green.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:45 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. Eastern towhee (v)
2. Black-capped chickadee*
3. White-throated sparrow (v)
4. American robin (v)*
5. Eastern phoebe
6. Hermit thrush (v)
7. Mallard
Elsewhere
8. Tufted titmouse
9. American crow
10. House finch
11. Mourning dove
12. Herring gull
13. House sparrow
14. Song sparrow
15. Northern cardinal
16. European starling
Bark art.
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, European starling, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-throated sparrow
