Red-tailed Hawk.
Maine has five seasons, so they say. The fifth—the non-traditional one—is Mud Season. Basically, it’s the month of April, a month of thaw and rain and still-leafless hardwood trees. Well, this week has seemed like Mud Season Jr.
Splash.
Rain, and lots of it. A bona fide nor’easter—although, being on the coast, we missed the snow. The Beech Hill trail has been muddy and puddly, with washouts and places. But today dawned sunny. A friend even took a photo of an early rainbow. I had hopes for good photographic conditions by the time of my hike with dog.
But it was not to be. The skies grayed over in early afternoon, and more rain came through. We did get a lull, though, so Jack and I took off for the hill. Chickadees, a red-tail (perhaps two). Then, on our return trip, I noticed some fast-moving precipitation approaching from the southeast. More rain, I thought, but it turned out to be a patch of sleet.
My hiking boots are muddy again this evening.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped Chickadee**
2. White-breasted Nuthatch (v)
3. Red-tailed Hawk
4. American Crow* (v)
Elsewhere
5. Herring Gull
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, herring gull, red-tailed hawk, white-breasted nuthatch
