Bald Eagle.
Busy day, desk day. Had a break for lunch with a friend, which was nice. And eventually, Jack and I took a quick hike up the thawy, slippery Beech Hill trail. Heard chickadees and crows at first. Then I spied—against the slate-gray overcast sky—a solitary shrike atop the lone oak, a tree they love to hang out in, I’ve noticed. We ascended slowly, so I could try some photos, but suddenly it flew.
Northern shrike.
And just as suddenly a huge bird rose from behind the rise: an adult eagle, soaring on long wings down toward the southwest. Don’t know if the eagle is the reason the tiny (by comparison) shrike took off, but I probably would have.
Elsewhere, the calls of chickadees, the spring songs of titmice, the threat of a release, a true thaw—except, of course, we’ve still got a little snow to contend with, this being the 44th parallel.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-Capped Chickadee**
2. American Crow*
3. Northern Shrike
4. Bald Eagle
5. Tufted Titmouse (v)
Elsewhere
6. Herring Gull
7. Mourning Dove
8. Rock Dove
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
American crow.
Tags: American crow, bald eagle, black-capped chickadee, herring gull, mourning dove, northern shrike, rock dove, tufted titmouse
