Old Blueback (Eastern Bluebird).
I heard the word “snow,”
and that’s all it took to set the wheels in motion.
The wheels of morning efficiency, the ones
that dressed me hurriedly,
fed breakfast to the dog,
and carried us to Beech Hill Preserve.
American Robin.
We hiked alone in near-freezing temperatures
where some early spring birds were active enough,
gathering energy food,
and others were hunkered down,
I assume.
We watched a turkey cross the trail.
I heard the chattering call of a bird
I did not recognize—
but many also that I did,
and even spent a lovely minute recording
the soliloquy of a robin.
It snowed later, a bit,
and later still, the snow melted.
Things are greening up.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 8 a.m., I hiked all trails.
1. Herring Gull*
2. Hermit Thrush
3. Black-capped Chickadee**
4. American Goldfinch*
5. Brown-headed Cowbird (v)
6. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
7. American Crow*
8. Eastern Towhee (v)
9. Song Sparrow
10. Yellow-rumped Warbler
11. Northern Flicker* (v)
12. Northern Cardinal** (v)
13. American Robin*
14. White-throated Sparrow (v)
15. Tufted Titmouse** (v)
16. Wild Turkey
17. White-breasted Nuthatch** (v)
18. Eastern Bluebird
19. Turkey Vulture
20. Savannah Sparrow
21. Palm Warbler
22. Downy Woodpecker**
Elsewhere
23. Mourning Dove
24. Blue Jay (v)
25. House Finch (v)
26. Dark-eyed Junco (v)
v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
Tags: American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown-headed cowbird, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, eastern towhee, hermit thrush, herring gull, house finch, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern flicker, palm warbler, ruby-crowned kinglet, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, tufted titmouse, turkey vulture, white-breasted nuthatch, white-throated sparrow, wild turkey, yellow-rumped warbler
