Optical illusion.
Today on breezy, nippy, snow-crusted Beech hill, I saw a few footprints whose surroundings had been blown free of snow, leaving a little plateau in the shape of a shoe sole. One was particularly engaging, so I took its picture.
Back home, I uploaded this photo, and opened it, and I saw a concave footprint in the snow. It took me probably a full minute, at least, to convince my brain that I’d actually photographed what I knew I’d seen. Such is the nature of illusions.
One illusion we’ve had lately is one of winter, when it’s really spring. The hard-packed drifts are many feet high in some places. The temperatures remain very cold here in the unlucky northeast—or lucky, depending on who you are. The usually winter birds did not appear—the shrikes, the bluebirds—and few have returned. They’re holding back.
But I remind myself never to fear. Because like everything else on this tilted planet—in this magical universe—it’s all nothing but an illusion.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Red-tailed Hawk
2. American Robin
Elsewhere
3. American Crow
4. Herring Gull
5. House Finch (v)
v = Voice only
Tags: American crow, American robin, herring gull, house finch, red-tailed hawk
