Northern Shrike.
Soon after I began to climb
The hill I claim each day,
I heard not far away—
A sort of tinny bray.
Up a trail cloaked in ice and rime
I hurried up, because I knew
I’d heard an angry shrike.
Its burry whistle, like
A child’s toy, made my hike
a thing of wonder. The time flew.
(The shrikes were really two.)
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 9 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped Chickadee
2. Common Raven
3. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
4. Northern Shrike
5. American Crow*
6. Herring Gull*
7. Blue Jay (v)
8. Horned Lark
9. Eastern Flicker (v(
10. Downy Woodpecker
11. American Robin
Elsewhere
12. European Starling
13. Rock Pigeon
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, common raven, downy woodpecker, European starling, herring gull, horned lark, northern shrike, rock pigeon, white-breasted nuthatch
