Clouds.
A chilly, sunny day. Crusts of ice lay here and there when I took dog out first thing. The resident red squirrel was his usual fearless self—my hope is that, for all the time he spends leaping onto the roof, he hasn’t found a way into the walls. I mean, yikes.
Clouds.
We hit the hill early, Jack and I. [Hi, Kristen!] Considering the nice weather, I expected a few humans—and sure enough there were a couple vehicles parked in the lot. We passed a family with small boys ascending. Heard a couple of goldfinches flying over. And then got a good look at the wide, expansive sky. Clear overhead—but in the east, above the ocean, long lumps of cumulus spread like a great pod of white whales. Down the southern slope, a couple crows cawed and chased, then more of the black flappers rose from the eastern field.
We met Lucy, the young Jack Russell terrier, headed down. (Jack and Lucy are friendly by now.) And there was a bit of wind at the summit, as usual. Considering a temperature near freezing, it felt a little chilly to me. Which is to say: invigorating.
But I simply couldn’t keep from watching those oceangoing clouds. Just the sort of clouds a child would find the shapes of animals in, although I saw merely wondrous, bulbous forms of light and shadow.
Earthworm.
We didn’t linger, circled Beech Nut and headed back down quickly into the western breeze. Just as we were about to meet another little family coming up, I happened to spot a good-sized earthworm squirming along the trail. Talk about unexpected.
Back in the parking lot, I heard another goldfinch flying over—and then the voice of a chickadee. Three bird species on our quick morning hike this morning.
Not a lot else to report. Herring gull and pigeon in town.
Mostly Jack and I stayed home today, keeping watch on the resident squirrels.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 10:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American goldfinch (voice)
2. American crow
3. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
Elsewhere
4. Herring gull
5. Rock pigeon
Red squirrel.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, herring gull, rock pigeon
