Hidden sun.
Thanks to last night’s wet snow—and the light rain that followed—a whole new landscape greeted me today. Last week’s drifts had lessened noticeably, and sogginess oozed from everywhere.
Kite.
Around my place were the usual crows, a pair of titmice singing dueling love songs, a few chickadees passing through, and the chirps of house sparrows across the road. Plenty of sun, though, and temperatures a bit above freezing, so I took the opportunity to shovel away the film of new snow. A little worried about ice underfoot—but not that worried.
Worked on a Sunday (again), but tore myself away late in the day. Grabbed my dog, my snowshoes, my camera, etc., and headed up Powerhouse Hill.
The Beech hill parking lot was empty—but two cars were parked along the road. We blasted into the lot, I donned my snowshoes, and we commenced to crunching up the wet, crusty trail. A couple of hikers were walking the road to the gate, and a pair of kite-flyers were sailing a sort of green parachute thing about half-way up. The hillsides had transformed from flawless white sheets to lumpy, ripply slopes. Jack and I crunched up the trail with a purpose.
Beech Nut.
Most remarkable this afternoon was the look of the sun behind a wide clump of western clouds. I heard no small birds. I saw no hawk or raven or crow. I did hear a crow, though—the only bird on my Beech Hill list today.
Without stopping we reached Beech Nut and circled it and headed back down. Met the hiking couple (whom we’d passed while ascending) and noticed the kite-flyers wrapping things up. We descended into a brisk west wind. The inland hills stood mute and dark before us. No need for gloves or sweatshirt hood. A good, quick, pulse-quickening hike.
Coming back home, I noticed a couple herring gulls soaring over Clam Cove. And tonight, a crescent new moon descended beyond the bare oak branches. Saturn hung not very far away.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American crow (voice)
Elsewhere
2. Tufted titmouse
3. Black-capped chickadee
4. House sparrow
5. Herring gull
Ripply snow.
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, herring gull, house sparrow, tufted titmouse
