Eastern sky.
Seems like everyone expected a big rain to arrive this afternoon, and the morning portended such a thing, with its lumbering cloud-cover and fickle breezes. The world stayed dry through noon, though, so I figured we’d best get up to Beech Hill, Jack and I.
Beech Hill.
A warm first day of December. The trail remained soggy. No little birds calling near the parking lot. On the way up the first climb, I heard the caw of a crow—then saw a big black bird flying swiftly overhead. I figured it for a crow but then soon after heard the croak of a raven from the trees to the north and wondered. Met a man and dog coming down, exchanged pleasantries, and as we spoke a wayward herring gull flew above us, eastbound.
The sky seemed indecisive. Low clouds loomed to the northwest and west, but what looked like an open area of blue hung above the bay. A mixed assortment covered the southeastern sky. The air felt alive with uncertainty.
Beech Nut sat stonily atop the summit. The wonderfully restored hut caught my attention today, for some reason. It stood solid and firm, its weight fixing itself enduringly on the hill—a hundred years in place. Its stones held some kind of mute secret of what-all had gone on up there for all those years: fair-weather picnickers, kite-flying children, lovers meeting on the sly. If only it could tell those tales.
Beech Nut window.
Returning, we saw no hawks or larks or owls. The sun threatened to emerge from behind the southern clouds—but never quite did. My shoes collected mud, as did Jack’s paws. Not until we’d reached the parking lot again could I list my fourth bird: a chickadee, calling from alongside Beech Hill Road.
Not much else to report today. A house sparrow across Route 1. Plenty of gulls and crows.
The rain held off until after dark—but now it’s coming down, and the windows are rattling. I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow might bring.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 12:45 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. American crow (voice)
2. Herring gull (voice)
3. Common raven
4. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
Elsewhere
5. House sparrow
Beech Nut.
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, common raven, herring gull, house sparrow
