Clouded sulphur and bee.
By damn, the forecasters got it right: today was a spectacular day. Sun-filled, warming quickly, a little westerly wind. The sudden change must’ve fooled the titmouse I heard singing its spring song out there early. Then, in late morning, I went for a fast bike ride. Gulls, cardinal, jays. Soon after, my college football game didn’t go the way I’d hoped, so dog and I took an early hike up Beech Hill.
A warm hike. A crowded trail. Got the last space in the parking lot. I wasn’t at all surprised.
I hiked in shorts and sandals. Jack was overdressed. I heard the voices of only four bird species—again, not surprising, considering the temperature, time of day, and crowds of humans—so my attention was drawn by the little yellow butterflies everywhere darting about the grasses. Clouded sulphurs, I’m pretty sure. Often you’d see to together, seemingly following each other in a close, mad dash, each beating the other with its wings. I marvel at how butterflies can travel so purposefully. They just don’t look as aerodynamic as they are.
I noticed, too, that small bees and the sulphurs tended to seek out the same flowers. I even got a photo of the two together.
The temperature reached the upper-70s (F) today. Just a day or two after we had a here-and-there freeze.
Tonight the moon is nearly full. Still wearing shorts and sandals.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
2. Yellow-rumped warbler (voice)
3. Hairy woodpecker (voice)
4. American crow (voice)
Elsewhere
5. Tufted titmouse
6. Northern cardinal
7. White-throated sparrow
8. Herring gull
9. Blue jay
10. Song sparrow
11. European starling
12. Ring-billed gull
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, European starling, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, northern cardinal, ring-billed gull, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler
