American crow and red-tailed hawk.
This day dawned gray. Warmer than yesterday, cloaked with clouds. Change in the air, for sure.
Out back I heard the voices of crows and jays. Checked the weather radar online and saw signs of big rain coming—but not ’til afternoon. So Jack and I headed to Beech Hill at noon, figuring we’d beat the rain.
Beech Nut.
En route, robins flitted across the road. Found a solitary car parked in the lot. Saw a chickadee flit by. Not a lot of wind below. The leaves of trees are mostly brown now except for the larches, whose fronds are yellow, and patches of red still lie here and there on the hill. Heard a crow, heard a robin, heard a jay.
My friend Joe, the Beech Hill steward, was roofing the little kiosk below. We chatted for a bit before heading on up. We met a woman descending with a dog—like Jack, wearing blaze orange on account of it being hunting season. Her dog seemed anxious to see Jack, though, so we passed in a hurry. I had my eye out for harriers, remembering yesterday’s bird on the blueberry barren, but saw none. No small birds at the summit, as I have expected there to be. The bay spread below us photogenically, as always.
A bit of wind kicked up, so we descended. A few crows flapped along down the southeastern slope, cawing. Then I saw the hawk. A quick glance through my binocs confirmed it as a redtail—a handsome adult. It circled low for a moment before the crows caught wind. A pair of them headed its way. And so I stood on the curve and snapped off as many photos as I could of the hawk and crows, unsure if the distance and overcast light would give me any good ones. Not for the first time, I felt a bit sorry for the hawk. But judging by the nonchalance of this one, I learned that my sympathies are very likely wasted, all in all.
Red-tailed hawk.
Another woman and dog were ascending just then. They stopped and watched the hawk and crows also. We chatted for a bit afterward—about hawks, and birds, and hunting season. The beagle on her leash wore blaze orange also.
Another group of hikers ascended then, and I pointed out the redtail, circling away to the east.
No other bird species showed themselves on our descent. Met a man with a small, orange-clad dog. Greeted Joe again, then headed out of the parking lot. A handful of juncos flitted away.
Rain came, sure enough. A pretty hard rain, with wind in the oaks out back. I always think of the gigantic leaning oak tree on nights like this, the one overhanging my bedroom. I must presume I’ll survive another stormy night.
Mount Desert.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 12 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee
2. American crow
3. American robin (voice)
4. Blue jay (voice)
5. Nothern flicker (voice)
6. Red-tailed hawk
7. Dark-eyed junco
Elsewhere
8. Herring gull
Two crows.
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, dark-eyed junco, herring gull, northern flicker, red-tailed hawk
