Downy Woodpecker.
A little sun early, albeit breezy and cold. Dog convinced me to accompany him on a hike fairly early, and about the time we arrived at Beech Hill, it began to snow. Lightly, but windily. Turned out to be kind of a frigid trip on a slippery trail.
Red-tailed Hawk.
We did meet a friend and his dog who had got the jump on us. I heard robins, saw a raven, heard crows, saw a female downy woodpecker working industriously on a lichen-coated tree trunk. On our return, about halfway down the trail, we stopped and just stood there and felt the breeze and listened. For about fifteen minutes we did that. One of the coolest things I’ve ever done.
Elsewhere, while running errands, I saw a bunch of birds—starlings, pigeons, gulls, and a solitary red-tailed hawk circling high above Chickawaukie Lake in Rockland.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 9:30 a.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American Robin* (v)
2. Common Raven
3. American Crow* (v)
4. Downy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
5. Herring Gull
6. European Starling
7. Rock Pigeon
8. Mallard
9. Red-tailed Hawk
10. Ring-billed Gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American robin, common raven, downy woodpecker, European starling, herring gull, mallard, red-tailed hawk, ring-billed gull, rock pigeon
