Eastern bluebird.
Nippy but lovely, this day. Sun-splashed, calm, fragrant. I did some desk work, watched some college football, raked some leaves. hiked Beech Hill with dog. That’s right, Jack and I headed that way even though I figured there’d be plenty of other hikers to mingle with. Not that that’s a bad thing.
Eastern bluebird.
As it happens, the parking lot was only about half-full—less, counting the back lot. Several of the usual bird species made an appearance early, then coming up the first steep slope, I heard the tiny fluty sweetness that is a bluebird’s call. And there the bird was, flying low across a new-mown field. We greeted other hiking groups, each (it seemed) with at least one dog. (Two of these were leashless, but I reminded them.) Everyone seemed to be in a good mood.
Returning, just below the summit, I heard another bluebird and found it sitting alone on the tip of a staghorn sumac spire with open hillsides all around. Got a couple distant photos of it. Not great though.
Then, about midway, I heard more than one bluebird. And I found myself surrounded by them. Five or six of ’em, maybe more, flitting from bare birch to bare birch and down into the mown field then up onto a weed tip then back down onto the field. This time, they came near enough for a few half-way decent shots.
A fair, mild mid-November afternoon on a coastal hill in Maine is rendered nearly perfect, I think, when bluebirds are involved.
Note: I did see a single meteor in the wee hours of this morning.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee*
2. White-breasted nuthatch
3. American crow* (v)
4. Downy woodpecker (v)
5. Northern flicker
6. Eastern bluebird
7. Tufted titmouse (v)
8. Dark-eyed junco
Elsewhere
9. Herring gull
10. Song sparrow
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, herring gull, northern flicker, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
