Yellow-rumped warbler.

After last night’s liquidity, things hardened up in the wee hours, and the day dawned ice cold. The deck and stairs were a bit less treacherous, however, thanks to little frozen nubbles underfoot. Not as much ice in the trees here by the water today, either, but—as dog and I found out during our afternoon hike—the trees of Beech Hill remain bowed and drooping. No pileated woodpecker when we arrived.

American crows.

But there was a car parked along the road. And the voices of crows in the distance. And a scrap or two of blue in the western sky.

Heard a northern flicker at the summit—seems they’re sticking year-round again—and watched a cloud of crows settle on ice-covered trees down the eastern slope. Met two hikers taking photos at Beech Nut, whose roof grass was ice-encased.

Returning, the blue scraps grew larger as they floated in from the west, and the sunlight illuminated the ice-covered trees on the Rockville Ridge. (A pretty spectacular sight, if I do say.) And we encountered another little flock of yellow-rumps in the bayberries. One even posed for photos—a crazy, puffed up bird in an icy realm. We also encountered a couple more hiking parties, which included kids, a dog, and a young mother carrying a bundled-up baby. Soon after, I heard the voice of a hairy woodpecker in the wooded section by the road.

Chickadees at the parking lot rounded out the day. Tonight the temps will dip low.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 1:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. American crow*
2. Northern flicker (v)
3. Yellow-rumped warbler
4. Hairy woodpecker (v)
5. Black-capped chickadee (v)

Elsewhere

6. Mourning dove
7. Herring gull
8. Ring-billed gull

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere

Iced trees.