Savannah Sparrow and Horned Lark.
During a lull in the rain
dog and I hiked our daily hill in fog
as I took photos of trailside foliage
laden with water droplets
and kept my ears open to
the voices of birds.
Ascending, I heard the twitter of a Horned Lark,
but it flew before I could aim my camera.
Hairy Woodpecker.
Descending, near the stretch of trail
where I’d heard and seen the lark,
I spied a Savannah sparrow
that had only one leg
but a voracious appetite.
Three or four times the little bird
would tump over,
then quickly right itself.
As I was taking its picture,
a Horned Lark entered the frame—
a lark I assume was the one I’d seen earlier,
since they rarely travel alone.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 9:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. Hairy Woodpecker
3. Brown Creeper (v)
4. American Crow*
5. Blue Jay**
6. American Robin
7. American Goldfinch (v)
8. Horned Lark
9. Yellow-rumped Warbler
10. Northern Flicker
11. Song Sparrow
Elsewhere
12. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Woolly Aphid (adult).
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown creeper, hairy woodpecker, horned lark, northern flicker, rock pigeon, song sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
