Rainy trail.
How many ways can I say, “Jack and I headed up to Beech Hill”? “Dog and I took off for our daily hike”? “I grabbed Jack and we made our way to Beech Hill”? “We decided it was time to hit Beech Hill”? “Jack and I hopped into the pickup and made the short drive to Beech Hill”? I’m running out of ideas.
Birch.
Today began with rain, and then it stopped raining for a while, and then it started to sprinkle again at just about the time my Australian cattle dog mix and I embarked on our customary excursion to the nearby protected high ground known as Beech Hill Preserve. And you know what? It amounted to a fast walk in the rain. On the way up, the light, steady, wind-blown rain spattered at the back of us; on our way back down, it came straight into our faces, chilling my cheeks and bare hands. There wasn’t much to look at. There wasn’t much to hear. There was only movement, step after step, heavy breathing, the good feeling of brisk exercise.
I did see a couple chickadees flitting about in the tangles near the parking lot. I did hear the voice of a robin.
It took us all of eighteen minutes, up and down.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee
2. American robin (v)
Elsewhere
3. American crow
4. Herring gull
5. Common grackle
6. Mourning dove
v = Voice only
Tags: American crow, American robin, black-capped chickadee, common grackle, herring gull, mourning dove
