Mist.
Today marked a change in the weather, a change from clear and mild to mostly cloudy and misty and about the right temperature for the time of year. Still on the mild side, but not the warming sun we’ve had for the past several days—for as short a time as it’s been shining. Got madly busy before the Thanksgiving holiday, but busyness is a good thing, as long as you’ve got something to show for it. Heck, even if you don’t.
White-breasted nuthatch.
After a while, not long before the sun headed down, dog and I found ourselves at the Beech Hill parking lot, where the little neighborhood yard birds were hanging out, as they have been lately. Four of same usual species, in fact: black-capped chickadee, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker. Few other humans, no other dogs. No bluebirds along the fields, no coots off on the lake. No sparrows, no hawks, no jays—no crows, even. Not while we were there anyway.
From the summit, I saw little rays of sunlight breaking through cracks in the clouds, illuminating distant hillsides. Toward the south, the peninsulas and islands vanished in an orange mist. And I heard the cry of a flicker—another common species up there lately.
Back down at the parking lot, the same four little birds were still poking around. Familiarity is comforting, when you think about it..
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee
2. White-breasted nuthatch
3. Tufted titmouse (v)
4. Downy woodpecker
5. Northern flicker (v)
Elsewhere
6. Herring gull
7. American crow
v = Voice only
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, downy woodpecker, herring gull, northern flicker, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
