Savannah Sparrow.

Red-tailed Hawk.

The morning drizzled, but the midday blew.
First it blew the clouds away—
all but a few that left long, fast shadows.
Then it blew perching Savannah Sparrows
that had to use their wings like highwire tools
to keep their balance on leafy perches.

And it billowed the sails
of boats in the bay.

The wind also blew about the butterflies
whose flight always strikes me as
astonishingly deft for all their floppy appearance.

But a Red-tailed Hawk used the wind
expertly
to circle, circle in the blue.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 12:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Chestnut-sided Warbler (v)
2. American Goldfinch*
3. Chipping Sparrow (v)
4. Common Yellowthroat
5. American Robin*
6. Eastern Towhee
7. Yellow Warbler (v)
8. Eastern Phoebe
9. Song Sparrow
10. Gray Catbird**
11. Savannah Sparrow
12. Herring Gull*
13. Tree Swallow
14. American Crow*
15. Red-tailed Hawk
16. Field Sparrow (v)
17. Red-eyed Vireo (v)

Elsewhere

18. Mourning Dove
19. Hairy Woodpecker (v)
20. Northern Cardinal

Harris’s Checkerspot.