Sky over Rockland.
On the last morning of winter, the sun rose and the air got warmer quicker than on any other day so far this year. Out back, I heard a crow, a cardinal, a house finch, a white-breasted nuthatch, a chickadee, a goldfinch—and a first-of-year song sparrow calling from the tangles at the edge of the yard of the neighbor to the south of me. Soon after recognizing the song sparrow’s voice, I heard the distinctive chip note of a white-throated sparrow in nearer tangles. And not long after that, I heard the calls of a downy woodpecker and a good ol’ American blue jay.
Beech Hill view.
Dog and I walked Beech Hill fairly early. Seven species on the hill today: robin, titmouse, crow, goldfinch, herring gull, chickadee, and downy woodpecker. The islands hung off in a blue-gray haze, an almost steamy miasma, as if in summer. There was a wind up there, but I probably didn’t really need that hooded sweatshirt.
Took a midday bike ride. Heard the calls of three separate song sparrows in Rockport Village.
Late in the day, dog and I headed for the breakwater. En route, I noted a robin in the cemetery and saw a small flock of blackbirds—recognizing only a grackle—along the access lane. On our arrival, at nearly high tide, we found that another fifty or sixty spring-feverish folks (and their dogs) had got the same idea.
Great cormorant.
The chop rose on the harbor side this day, thanks to the antic northwest wind. And after a mostly sunny Saturday, clouds had by then begun collecting in the south and west sky, creating a dramatic sunray display over the harbor. But aside from a pair of mallards at the little protected beach, I saw not a single species on that side. On the island side, meantime, floated a couple common eiders. Then I spotted a solitary cormorant winging its way low over the water and thought perhaps this was an early double-crested; later, though, I got near it, and in fact it was a lingering great.
I felt a bit sad not to have seen any long-tailed ducks. And I found interesting the lack of any common loons. I couldn’t remember my loonless last trip out there and figured they’d all headed back to the lakes and ponds, what with (early) ice-out, and all. Then, having nearly reached shore on the return trip, I caught sight of a solo diver in full spring plumage floating off in the northeast lee.
Now that it’s spring, of course, we’re due some cooler temperatures—and precipitation that might even include snow. And you know? I’m not the least surprised.
Meantime, tonight—an implausibly mild-seeming night—up the hill a ways I heard a single spring peeper.
The Rockland Breakwater.
Today’s List
American crow
Northern cardinal
Song sparrow
White-throated sparrow
House finch
White-breasted nuthatch
Black-capped chickadee
American goldfinch
Blue jay
Downy woodpecker
American robin
Tufted titmouse
Mourning dove
Herring gull
Bufflehead
Common grackle
Common eider
Great cormorant
Common loon
Mallard
Immature herring gull.
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, bufflehead, common eider, common grackle, common loon, downy woodpecker, great cormorant, herring gull, house finch, mallard, mourning dove, northern cardinal, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow
