Hairy Woodpecker.
A little layer of wet snow early soon gave way to 40-something degree (F) temperatures, as the clouds moved away and the sun came out, and—eventually, after a scramble of desk work—Jack and I took a hike up Beech Hill.
Little tiny rabbit feet.
A few cars there when we arrived. A muddy track up, what with all the melting going on. Quite a few birds, though. You can tell things are warming to the prospect of spring. I mean, Daylight Savings Time happens this weekend, and the equinox soon thereafter. (Daylight Savings Time. We’re still doing that pretend-like adjustment of days? Sheesh.)
At the summit, I saw that somebody’d started a campfire up against one of the rock walls of Beech Nut overnight. Also last night, over at Megunticook Lake, a young man went through thin ice and drowned. I wish young people didn’t have to endure the sort of reckless, adventurous phases that end unhappily—although I daresay I went through my own version of such phases.
Tonight is sweet-smelling and starry, and the brook is gossiping with itself over on the dark edge of the yard. I love tonight. Got spring on the brain, I guess buy adobe acrobat standard.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. House Finch** (v)
2. White-breasted Nuthatch*
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. Hairy Woodpecker
5. Pileated Woodpecker (v)
6. American Crow* (v)
7. American Robin (v)
8. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
Elsewhere
9. Blue Jay (v)
10. Mourning Dove (v)
11. Herring Gull
12. House Sparrow
13. Rock Pigeon
14. Mallard
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mallard, mourning dove, pileated woodpecker, rock pigeon, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
