American crows.
In their assemblies at the edge of town, crows introduce resolutions, then vote them down. —from The Answer is “No” (E. B. White)
Eastern towhee.
I worked at my desk on this latest in our continuing series of glorious autumn days straight through until it was time for my daily Beech hill hike with dog. Had to brake for a flock of turkeys as we neared the turn to the parking lot, where I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised at all the cars as Jack and I pulled in.
Saw yellow-rumped warblers (of course), maybe three or four score of them. Did not see any white-crowned sparrows (for the first time all week). Heard (and saw) a towhee, heard (and saw) a flicker, heard (and saw) chickadees. Lots of laughing people—middle-aged couples, young families with beautiful children, solo hikers.
Returning, I recognized one of the solo hikers (although, like me, she was accompanied by a dog) as an old friend whom I hadn’t seen in at least a couple of decades. As we stood catching up in the angling sun, crows began to appear—first three (naturally), then a couple more, then several more, and finally at least a couple dozen of ’em. This excited both of us, since we’d both observed past October conventions of crows. As it always does, the scene brought to my mind of an E. B. White poem, The Answer is “No,” and the idea of a murder of crows vetoing common sensical resolutions and getting nowhere reminded me of current goings on in the U. S. Congress. Ah, American politics.
Sunset.
Thankful I am that the likes of that nonsense doesn’t extend into the natural realm, where all makes sense at the end of the day. And the end of this one had a lovely sunset.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Wild turkey
2. Yellow-rumped warbler
3. Black-capped chickadee
4. Northern flicker
5. Eastern towhee
6. American crow*
7. Blue jay** (v)
8. Pileated woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
9. Tufted titmouse (v)
10. Herring gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
