First day of spring.
The morning sun revealed about a foot of snowfall on everything. Not much drifting, and the temperature wasn’t too cold—but right away I noticed deer tracks leading to the row of side-yard junipers. I shoveled, worked. Worked, shoveled. At last the plow guy came. And by late in the day, Jack and I had had enough of the indoors. I grabbed my snowshoes and we took a trip to Beech Hill.
Spring snow.
Ours was the first vehicle in the parking lot since before the storm, but a few others had come up from the gate. Sledders, looked like—they didn’t hike the whole way up. The drifted-over upper trail looked almost like a sand dune.
Chickadees and titmice down at the parking lot. Just snow and a good stout breeze up at the summit. A good hike, though, for dog and me.
Anyway, the bird highlight of the day came early, back at home, when I got to watch (and listen to) a pair of dueling cardinals.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 4 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee**
2. Tufted titmouse
Elsewhere
3. American crow
4. Northern cardinal
5. Herring gull
6. Mourning dove
7. House finch
8. European starling (v)
v = Voice only
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, European starling, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, tufted titmouse
