Eastern Phoebe.

Rain this morning, and chilly—but not too chilly. I had heard it would rain. But when the sun came out in late morning, I was surprised. And by midday, when the temperature had hit sixty, I had gone giddy with excitement. Because I knew. I knew I would ride my bicycle for the first time in 2014.

Which I did. It was great. Warm, tiring, grit along the roadside, birds in the trees. The most thrilling “sighting” was a singing Brown Creeper on outer Bayview Street in Camden. Phoebes all over the place, too. I rode farther than I had to—stopped in to visit with my friend Kristen at Coastal Mountains Land Trust and dropped by Owl and Turtle to meet the new owners of the fabled local bookstore. (Really nice folks.) It was cooler near the harbors but warm enough to put sweat on my brow elsewhere.

Then I hiked Beech Hill with Jack. Ran into an acquaintance there, too, and had a nice chat. He had seen a pair of (apparently) harriers. I saw a turkey vulture and a phoebe and other stuff.

Clouded up tonight. A little more rain comin’ through. But tomorrow is Saturday, and I see some kind of delicious exercise in my future.

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. American Crow*
2. Black-capped Chickadee*
3. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
4. American Robin*
5. American Goldfinch (v)
6. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
7. Eastern Phoebe**
8. Northern Cardinal** (v)
9. Mourning Dove* (v)
10. Turkey Vulture*
11. House Finch (v)

Elsewhere

12. House Sparrow
13. Herring Gull
14. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
15. Common Grackle (v)
16. Brown Creeper (v)

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