Jack on the trail.
Bright morning. Crows on the fringes. House sparrows across the road. But I’d barely finished my first cup of coffee before the day got crazy busy. Email to answer, unexpected phone calls, font orders to fill. Since the mild weather beckoned and I had an afternoon auto-service appointment, I figured I’d better think about getting a bike ride in. And an early hike with dog.
Beech Nut.
So I took a fast ride at midday, down to Rockland and up to Rockport and back. Errands accomplished. Pulse rate high. In Rockland were gulls and pigeons. Crows along the roads. At one point on Route 1, road crews were at work, and traffic was getting funneled into one lane, so I took my place for a minute in a line of cars. While waiting there, I heard the voices of dueling golden-crowned kinglets from the tops of two spruce trees.
Got back, changed quickly, grabbed Jack’s leash, and before he knew it we were hurrying up Beech Hill. Crows there, too, and chickadees—but not much else right away. I did however meet a couple fellow hikers and exchanged some friendly words. And I heard a jay. And saw a huge raft of coots floating out in Chickawaukie Lake below.
Got to the auto shop ten minutes late. At last, I could stop and relax. For two hours I relaxed. Out the front windows of the place, I watched starlings fluttering around between perches on utility lines.
Wrote a bunch of words tonight, then took a breather out on the deck. Still. Unseasonably warm. A near-full moon above. Then I heard something—a faint, high whistling, growling louder. The sound came from the wings of a woodcock, I’m sure of it, like a semi-spring flight song.
Birch.
Wrote some more, stepped out one last time. Still. Warm. Quiet. Moon. And then a faint rustling, spattering sound from up the hill. At first I thought there might’ve been a deer or other critter creeping about up there, but then I realized what I was hearing: hardwoods dropping their leaves. Leaves from the near maple, falling to the deck; far oak leaves clattering softly down through the branches. It’s a sound I’ve never heard—at least not quite like that—and it gave me an unexpected thrill.
Later still, just a minute ago, the sky had gone overcast, obscuring the moon. After three spectacular November days in a row this week so far, I suppose it’s all right to get a little rain.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 1:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American crow
2. Black-capped chickadee
3. Blue jay
4. American coot
Elsewhere
5. House sparrow
6. Herring gull
7. Rock pigeon
8. Golden-crowned kinglet
9. European starling
10. American woodcock
Tags: American coot, American crow, American woodcock, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, European starling, golden-crowned kinglet, herring gull, house sparrow, rock pigeon
