Purple sandpipers.
Fair skies returned today. I knew it before I completely awoke—from the sunlight streaming through the slats in the blinds and the timbre in the song of the northern cardinal out the early morning window. Before leaving my bed, I also heard crows.
View from Beech Hill.
Within an hour or two, the temperature rose to about 50 (F), and I’d caught the calls of a house finch, downy woodpeckers, black-capped chickadees, and white-breasted nuthatches. Also one or two of the ever-present herring gulls. Then the dog grew antsy, and we took an early hike up Beech Hill.
Not so many birds on the hill just yet. In fact, I could only list crows, chickadees, and goldfinches in overflight. As I’ve come to expect on the hill, I got a good idea of today’s wind at the summit: a stout southwesterly And the views were decent, thanks to the sun.
Took a bike ride in mid-afternoon. Heard blue jays house sparrows, saw a pair of turkey vultures and a mourning dove.
Sunset.
Late today, I got a hankering for a breakwater walk. The dog was up for it, so we took off about 5:30 or so. The sun was still high, the wind was still from the southwest. Right away I spotted a small flotilla of common eiders, with their usual entourage of herring gulls. Nearby swam a pair of red-breasted mergansers. And a handsome great black-backed gull sat on a rock above near-high tide. Otherwise, though, nothing. Just ruffly waves on the harbor side, a smoother swell toward the islands.
On our brisk walk, I imagined that the loons had headed back to the lakes, the long-tailed ducks and purple sandpipers had headed northward. But as we neared the shore on our return, I caught sight of a solitary loon in the reflection of the setting sun. And four sandpipers appeared out of nowhere, perched alertly on the bay side.
Driving back home with the windows rolled slightly down, I heard the voice of an American robin.
Today’s List
Northern cardinal
American crow
White-breasted nuthatch
Black-capped chickadee
House finch
Downy woodpecker
Herring gull
Tufted titmouse
American goldfinch
Blue jay
Mourning dove
Turkey vulture
House sparrow
Common eider
Red-breasted merganser
Great black-backed gull
Common loon
Purple sandpiper
American robin
Catkin.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, common eider, common loon, downy woodpecker, great black-backed gull, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mourning dove, northern cardinal, purple sandpiper, red-breasted merganser, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, white-breasted nuthatch
