The bay.
This early morning, in a state of semi-sleep, I heard Jack licking himself over and over and said, “Stop it.” Then I realized that the repetitive, wet sound I was hearing came from rain out the window behind me.
Red squirrel.
And the world was a wet one when first I looked. But then the sun came out, and as I worked the world dried up, and come early afternoon, I couldn’t resist grabbing my bicycle for a little ride. A ride in a blustery October wind. Fall leaves swirled around me as I rode. The northbound trip proved a challenge, considering the wind came mostly from the northwest; southbound, I flew. Noticed cows, chickadees and a cardinal—and that was about it.
Finished up some work before closing time, when dog and I took off for our daily hike.
The wind had not abated—if anything, it’d picked up some. We visited with a pugnacious red squirrel in a spruce along the road, and then the wind chased us up the slope. Crows were flapping around down the southern slope. The sun was setting beneath a strip of pink-limned clouds. Heard a blue jay hollering from the distance. Met a couple hiking up and a family with little kids heading down. The children were an active bunch—running and squealing and eager to pet Jack. The bay at evening lay blue under a pastel sky.
Descending into the chill wind, we came upon a solitary song sparrow flitting inconspicuously amid the trailside brush. I took a peek at Chickawaukie and could just make out the raft of coots. Heard the faint voice of a chickadee from the trees along the road.
Birch.
Returning home, I got a glimpse of a large pale bird flapping up from the edge of the pavement into the trees. An owl? That’s all I could figure.
Tonight, the sky is black and clean. Jupiter hovers high above. Through binoculars I can see Ganymede, Io, Callisto, and Europa—the moons with the loveliest names.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 5:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American crow
2. Blue jay (voice)
3. American coot
4. Song sparrow
5. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
Elsewhere
6. White-breasted nuthatch
7. Herring gull
8. Northern cardinal
Tags: American coot, American crow, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, herring gull, northern cardinal, song sparrow, white-breasted nuthatch
