Pine grosbeak.

A little snow overnight, a little more snow today. Just a little—just enough to make things look like the first day of December. Pretty chilly. Never broke freezing, I’m pretty sure. I could just make out a hazy sun behind the snow clouds as Jack and I started up Beech Hill this afternoon.

White-breasted nuthatch.

No one else had been there when we arrived but us and the yard birds around the parking: chickadee, titmouse, nuthatch. Unusually, a pair of herring gulls flew over as I was photographing a nuthatch. Coming up the slope, I heard a flicker—and then actually managed to spot the bird through my binocs perched on a far hardwood on the other side of the long western slope. At the summit, we heard voices, and I spotted a group of boys down the first stretch of the wooded trial, plotting some kind of hiking adventure or something.

Thought to check the pond for the coots, and there they were. Then, nearing the parking lot again, I heard soft chirps, looked up, and in a tiny pine very near the trail perched a pair of pine grosbeaks—female and male. They even stuck around long enough for me to grab a grainy photo. Kind of made my day.

Tonight, more snow. Supposed to warm up some, though, I hear.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Black-capped chickadee
2. Tufted titmouse
3. White-breasted nuthatch
4. Herring gull*
5. Northern flicker
6. American coot
7. Pine grosbeak

Elsewhere

8. American crow