Yellow-rumped warblers.
I’m not sure the temperature rose above 50 (F) today. Maybe it did, but it didn’t feel like it. Not that I got out in it much. Spent pretty much all day at my desk, getting stuff done. I did glance out at the sunny day quite a bit—saw crows is about all—but the only place Jack and I went was Beech Hill.
American robins.
Which we did in late afternoon. Several cars in the lot. Met a few people coming down. Saw chickadees on our way up. Heard crows. Not as much breeze as yesterday, and no clouds at all. But nippy. My fingers got kind of numb in the cold—but Jack didn’t seem to mind. Nor did the little gang of yellow-rumps I heard chipping in the sunny periphery.
Toward the summit, I saw a silent song sparrow flit across the trail. We met more hikers coming down, among them a little boy chasing milkweed fluff. The kiddo wasn’t dressed as warmly as I but didn’t seem bothered by the chill. One guy wore only a T-shirt up top. Macho.
Sail in the bay. Lovely view. Been thinking about Steve Jobs all day. What a game-changer he was.
Returning, I heard the notes of a white-throated sparrow—and then a pair of robins flew up into a trailside birch. Canadian birds, I figure, considering the temperature. Maybe not. Young ones, for sure.
Yellow-rumped warbler.
And then more yellow-rumps showed up. A dozen of ’em, maybe two. Flitting in the sunny crowns of some little hardwoods with somewhat thinner foliage than before yesterday’s squall. They flitted, they chased each other. They wouldn’t sit still for photos. We stood there for maybe ten minutes, Jack and I, both of us just soaking up the sun.
Tonight has a moon and tumbling temperatures. I turned the heat on for the first time since spring.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee
2. American crow
3. Yellow-rumped warbler
4. Song sparrow
5. White-throated sparrow (voice)
6. American robin
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
