9 February 2025

December sky

Sunday, December 19th, 2010
December sky, from Beech Hill, Rockport, Maine, 19 December 2010.

December sky.

It was a sunny day, to start—perhaps with a bit of haze in the air. When I first stepped out, I heard the voices of a fair-sized flock of finches that settled in some trees across the road. I figured these for redpolls. Also some vocal house sparrows over there. And some crows about, as always.

Oak, Beech Hill, Rockport, Maine, 19 December 2010.

Oak.

The day proceeded in sunny fashion until midday, when some clouds moved over. I spent much of it attending to errands. Then, at about two, Jack and I proceeded to Beech Hill.

Several cars in the parking lot, it being a relatively mild December Sunday. We met several humans and not a few dogs. The sky proved fairly dramatic as we hiked up. I heard chickadees and a solitary flicker. No wind to speak of. A half-firm, half-soft trail.

Coming back down, we met more humans and a big yellow dog named Gus. Back at the parking lot, I heard the voice of a white-breasted nuthatch.

Returning home, we swung by Chickawaukie Lake. The pond’s surface was nearly completely frozen over. I thought I might see coots or ducks or eagles. In fact, I saw a mere few mallards. No coots. But a total of four bald eagles standing on the ice away out in the middle, one standing solo, and three standing together—a solitary adult, and an adult with two juveniles. The adult appeared belligerent toward one of the two youngsters with it; the young bird first walked nervously away then (when I wasn’t looking) vanished entirely. I never did see it flying across the dimming December sky.

Red squirrel, Glen Cove, Rockport, Maine, 19 December 2010.

Red squirrel.

Tonight, a veil of clouds is passing over the nearly full moon. I watched the moon while thinking about a friend who passed away unexpectedly yesterday.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Black-capped chickadee
2. Northern flicker
3. White-breasted nuthatch

Elsewhere

4. House sparrow
5. American crow
6. Common redpoll
7. House finch
8. Golden-crowned kinglet
9. Downy woodpecker
10. American crow
11. Herring gull
12. American robin

Three eagles, Chickawaukie Lake, Rockland, Maine, 19 December 2010.

Three eagles.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

 
Bird Report is a (sometimes intermittent) record of the birds I encounter while hiking, see while driving, or spy outside my window. —Brian Willson



3IP Logo
©1997–2025 by 3IP