It’d been a few weeks—maybe a month or more—since I’d seen one. But there it was, a Northern Shrike, perched alone as they do on the tiniest of twigs at the tip of a young hardwood. Waiting.

As a long-time vegetarian, it might seem ironic how crazy I am about these little meat-eating songbirds, but I am. They’re regular visitors in winter to Beech Hill (although I saw none the past two, for whatever reason), which seems to have perfect habitat. Plenty of small rodents active in the cold season; plenty of mouse and vole tracks in the snow today.

This one didn’t come close, but I got a distant photo. One of six species on the hill on this chilly morning.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 9:45 a.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. White-breasted Nuthatch**
3. Tufted Titmouse (v)
4. American Crow*
5. Northern Shrike
6. Common Raven (v)

Elsewhere

7. Herring Gull
8. Rock Pigeon
9. House Sparrow (v)
10. Mourning Dove
11. European Starling
12. Great Black-backed Gull

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