Field stubble.
Let’s see, what to do on a warm Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving? Go for a bike ride, that’s one thing. I took off in early afternoon and rode all over the place and had a grand time doing it. I saw gulls and crows and pigeons, heard chickadees and kinglets and titmice. I even ran into a friend in a car—well, not literally. (I hope I’m done running into cars.) It had to have hit 50 degrees (F).
November light.
And what else do you do? Go for a hike with a dog. Which I did about fifteen minutes after returning from the bike ride. Turns out I wasn’t the only one with that idea—the parking lot was jammed, with cars squeezed in every which way. Many, many people, from babies to old folks. Many dogs, too. The light was a lovely hazy yellow when the sun wasn’t out, which it was only for brief periods, and the air was fine, with just enough kick of breeze to chill my fingertips.
The sunset earlier than it did yesterday, I noticed. I reckon that trend will continue for a while.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee** (v)
2. Blue jay (v)
3. White-breasted nuthatch** (v)
4. Downy woodpecker (v)
Elsewhere
5. American crow
6. Herring gull
7. Rock pigeon
8. Golden-crowned kinglet (v)
9. Tufted titmouse (v)
v = Voice only
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, golden-crowned kinglet, herring gull, rock pigeon, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
