Sunset from Beech Hill.
Cloudy early. Still rainy. Drizzly. Misty. But I had an engagement at noon in Belfast, a half-hour (more) down east of here, and so had to scramble to get Saturday chores done first. Thankfully, the precipitation seemed to clear away in mid-morning as I collected my recycling and redeemable bottles and set out with Jack. Within minutes, it had begun to rain pretty steadily.
The bay.
But I managed to get to the dump and redemption center and post office and then head up the road to Belfast. Managed to make it to the poetry festival in time. (My friend Kristen had a reading.) Ate lunch at Chase’s Daily. Enjoyed several poetry readings and artist exhibitions. Finally headed back home after the sun emerged but not until the light began to fade from the sky. In fact, an eerily sun-soaked autumn landscape vanished at just the late-afternoon moment Jack and I reached Beech Hill, as a low line of clouds obscured the sun from above the southwest horizon.
Didn’t hear a single bird early. Finally saw one—a blue jay—flying in silhouette this side of the sun.
Somewhat farther up the trail, I saw, then heard, a white-throated sparrow. I also came upon several hikers, with three unleashed canines. I threw my weight around a little while asking (politely) if they could leash their dogs. As I had Jack. You know, following the rules. At least two of three did, in fact. Nice.
Saw another sparrow—fleetingly, figuring it also for a white-throat—at the summit, but nothing much else at all. However, driving away, not a hundred meters distant, my pickup’s passage spooked a small flock of roadside birds. As they headed up Beech Hill from the south, I caught sight of the yellow butt of one of them in my headlights. Bright yell0w.That’s why they call ’em yell0w-rumps.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Blue jay
2. White-throated sparrow
3. Yellow-rumped warbler
Elsewhere
4. Herring gull
5. European starling
6. Rock pigeon
Tags: blue jay, European starling, herring gull, rock pigeon, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
