Northern Harrier.

Awoke this morning to a very light drizzle and temperatures hovering just below freezing. I.e., it was slippery out. But it warmed soon enough to slightly above freezing. Very light wind. The drizzle turned to rain later, but Jack and I had to get our hike in, so we left in a light rain.

Pussy willow buds.

But by the time we got to Beech Hill the rain had completely stopped. All was foggy up there, though. Robins about. And the pussy willow stood out against the ruddy wet landscape, so I spent quite a while trying to get my camera to auto-focus on the stems. Once I finally got a shot, I turned to check for the robins I heard a little distance away—and there was a gray ghost, a male Northern Harrier, headed straight for us, not fifty feet from us. It saw me turn, too, though, did a quick about face, and I didn’t get what would’ve been a great photo had I only turned slowly.

Oh, well. Such is life on a lovely wet day.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. American Robin*
2. Black-capped Chickadee**
3. Northern Harrier
4. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
5. American Crow* (v)
6. Northern Cardinal** (v)
7. House Finch (v)
8. Blue Jay** (v)

Elsewhere

9. Song Sparrow
10. Herring Gull
11. Mallard
12. Mourning Dove (v)

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere