A cloudless morning, again cold, and with a nip of wind. The first bird I saw, while doing breakfast dishes, was a turkey vulture soaring past. I love how they never—or almost never—bother to flap their wings. Took the dog out. Robins around, a house finch calling from somewhere, and I heard house sparrows in the eaves of the place across the road. Since I’ve been seeing so many early birds lately (chickadees, a kinglet once) I thought to bring my camera. And, lo, a male finch flitted up into a nearby branch and began to sing.
Spent much of the day working at my kitchen table. But mid-afternoon seemed a good time to take Jack to the breakwater for a change. I also took my winter jacket, considering the wind and temperature. Glad I did.
Not overly windy right by the shore—buffleheads, a black-backed gull, a few eiders—but not far out the wind came strong from the northwest in great bursts and cascades, roiling the rising Rockland Harbor tide. Saw no birds at all on the harbor side, in fact; but out toward the islands, I spotted more eiders, a couple guillemots (still in winter plumage), a pair of two of red-breasted mergansers, and a solitary loon (in mixed plumage). Only two or three other folks had braved the wind-chill—far fewer than on most sunny Sundays.
Out at the lighthouse end, I saw a pair of long-tailed ducks tossing in the waves. Only a couple herring gulls. Returning, the wind was really whipping, but with the bracing feel of spring. Back at the parking lot, I heard a song sparrow singing off through the riotous air.
It wasn’t enough. We headed directly to Beech Hill.
En route, I saw a mourning dove on a utility line about where I usually do. We wound up again at the wooded trail, where robins again seemed everywhere. And again, about half-way up, a few fox sparrows. Some chickadees. We met a man and two small boys coming down. The man reported hearing turkeys up by the first field. We didn’t hear the turkeys, but returning down the lower trail, on stopping to listen (which we often do), a grouse suddenly burst off through the afternoon shadows.
Nearing the parking lot, I heard herring gulls off to shoreward. Jack noticed them, as well.
Tonight the wind whips still, and the trees up the hill clatter or whistle, depending on whether they’re hardwoods or pines. It’s going to be a cold one.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., I hiked the wooded trails.
1. American robin
2. Fox sparrow
3. American crow (voice)
4. Black-capped chickadee
5. Ruffed grouse
6. Herring gull (voice)
Elsewhere
7. Turkey vulture
8. House finch
9. House sparrow
10. Bufflehead
11. Great black-backed gull
12. Common eider
13. Red-breasted merganser
14. Common loon
15. Black guillemot
16. Long-tailed duck
17. Song sparrow
18. Mourning dove
Tags: American crow, American robin, black guillemot, black-capped chickadee, bufflehead, common eider, common loon, fox sparrow, great black-backed gull, herring gull, house finch, house sparrow, long-tailed duck, mourning dove, red-breasted merganser, ruffed grouse, song sparrow, turkey vulture