White-breasted nuthatch.
This morning brought with it a hazy sun and a cold wind. Also a couple of nuthatches, which I watched out back for a while. Crows in the periphery, gulls overhead. In just the past few days, most of the remnant oak leaves have slipped their twigs—funny how it seems to happen all at once, almost.
Beech Nut.
I spent most of the day writing and watching a (frustrating) college football game. I figured a brisk Beech Hill hike would take the sting off.
Jack figures a brisk Beech Hill hike is the most wonderful thing in the world, regardless. So happy dog and I took the short drive over. I’d worn an extra layer today, what with the persistent cold wind. It’s the coldest I’d felt up there since spring, a fact that prompted me to pull my hands up into the sleeves of my warm sweatshirt.
Heard three birds off in the wind somewhere—chickadee, jay, and crow—and saw coots over on the surface of Chickawaukie Lake. Otherwise, the wind provided ample distraction. I thought of the song “Cold Wind,” by Arcade Fire. I thought of how a cold wind symbolizes death in human mythology, thought of death generally, thought of how all our days are numbered. But then I thought of how just feeling the knifing edge of a cold wind means, by simply the definition of “feeling,” meant I was very much alive. Alive and breathing and moving through a spectacular landscape. Animate. Alive and cold.
But the cab of the pickup was warm. And on the way home I saw a mourning dove on a utility line.
Birch.
Tonight the stars and moon are out. The wind has mostly subsided. Looking at the stars + feeling the wind = alive.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
2. Blue jay (voice)
3. American coot
4. American crow (voice)
Elsewhere
5. White-breasted nuthatch
6. Herring gull
7. Rock pigeon
8. Mourning dove
Tags: American coot, American crow, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, herring gull, mourning dove, rock pigeon, white-breasted nuthatch
