Snow buntings.
Well, today I got all obsessed with snowy owls. Well, pileated woodpeckers and snowy owls. Or one particular pileated woodpecker, and one particular snowy owl—the woodpecker still chipping at the dead pine tree, and the owl I saw on Beech Hill yesterday. Couldn’t help it. Plus, the temperature was warmer (near 20 degrees (F)) and the wind not so strong (maybe 15 m.p.h.)—so we ended up on our hike, dog and I, with plenty of time left in the morning.
Washboard sky.
Someone had already hiked up ahead of us earlier in the day. I could tell from the off-leash dog tracks and the two piles of dog shit, now frozen on the trail. Grr. But we had the hill to ourselves. Saw a herring gull for the second straight day, which was kind of odd. Kept my eye peeled for an owl.
Instead, I saw snow buntings, a small flock of them, perched in the stubbly grass on the roof of Beech Nut. Grabbed a few photos as they swirled up onto the chimney and before they fluttered away, buzzing and twittering.
The sky up there this morning was a washboard sky.
The sun came out in afternoon, and the day remained comparatively mild. We’re told to expect rain soon, though, and after that another deep freeze.
Rarely dull weather here on the 44th parallel.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 10:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Herring gull*
2. Snow bunting
Elsewhere
3. American crow
4. Black-capped chickadee (v)
5. House finch (v)
6. Mallard
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, herring gull, house finch, mallard, snow bunting
