Monhegan Island.
A mild, overcast day, but not without a little breeze. Did a lot of writing for much of it. In mid-afternoon, it was time for a break for dog and me. We found a few in the Beech Hill parking lot, and in the trees above it, I found three species of little bird.
Well, I didn’t find them exactly—I heard ’em. The thin three-note call of a kinglet, the faint honks of a nuthatch, the familiar chattering of a chickadee. On the way up the hill, I heard crows. I heard a blue jay jeering from the trees at the base of the southern slope. I heard a flicker down there, too. A bit odd to be spattered by a few tiny raindrops spattered while a great arc of clearing rose from the south, beyond Chickawaukie Lake, beyond the misty island of Monhegan.
Met a little family I know just below the summit. They were flying a kite. Jack enjoyed getting his head scratched by the kiddos.
Returning, I heard the notes of a robin. It wasn’t that far away, but I’ll be damned if I could find it with my eyes.
I don’t know what I’d do without my ears.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Golden-crowned kinglet (v)
2. White-breasted nuthatch (v)
3. Black-capped chickadee** (v)
4. American crow* (v)
5. Blue jay (v)
6. Northern flicker (v)
7. American robin (v)
Elsewhere
8. Herring gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, golden-crowned kinglet, herring gull, northern flicker, white-breasted nuthatch
