Inbound Ferry.
On my hike with dog this afternoon a raven lifted off
from behind a row of small trees
very near dog and me,
large and black with powerful wingbeats,
carrying something like a small rodent in its beak,
to near to focus my camera.
Spring Azure.
Some people—many people—would attribute great meaning
to the rising of the black raven, but as much as
I love ravens,
I think it too simple a symbol of portent or omen.
If I would’ve gone on to die at the end of my hike,
would the raven have foretold it?
Or would the tiny spring azure butterfly
I saw soon afterward be to blame?
Or was the butterfly
a sign that I would get no good bird photos?
Or did the raven foretell the daytime deer
that bounded through the trees?
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 1:45 p.m., I hiked all trails.
1. American Goldfinch* (v)
2. Black-capped Chickadee*
3. American Crow* (v)
4. Eastern Towhee (v)
5. Yellow-rumped Warbler
6. Song Sparrow** (v)
7. Common Raven
8. Turkey Vulture*
9. Northern Cardinal** (v)
10. House Finch** (v)
11. Eastern Phoebe* (v)
12. Savannah Sparrow
Elsewhere
13. Blue Jay (v)
14. Mourning Dove
15. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (drumming)
16. Red-bellied Woodpecker (v)
17. American Robin
18. Herring Gull
19. House Sparrow
20. Mallard
21. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, common raven, eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, red-bellied, rock pigeon, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, turkey vulture, woodpecker, yellow-bellied sapsucker, yellow-rumped warbler
