Beech Hill sunset.
I awoke to a cold morning—perhaps the coldest of the season so far. Teens (F), for sure. Quite a contrast to the last couple of balmy days. Outside with Jack early, as house sparrows chirped across the road, I checked my drainage work from yesterday and found it acceptable. That’s a relief.
Beech Nut icicles.
A busy desk day, so dog and I didn’t get our break until late. On our drive to Beech Hill, the sun—out early but cloaked during the middle of the day—was on its way down behind a large raft of dark clouds. A single vehicle in the parking lot. The soggy track had turned crunchy and hard, with fancy ice crystals rising from what used to be mud. I had on layers and gloves.
Right away I heard a pair of brown creepers calling to each other from the tree trunks near the road. Ascending, we met a young couple coming down carrying a bouquet of winterberry. As we headed up onto the airy hillside, my gloves began to seem useless—if not in fact some kind of crazy hindrance to warm hands. My fingers were numb by the time we reached the summit, and we walked fast. The southwest sky loomed dramatically over the ridge: dark clouds hid the sun but let its orange rays slip beneath them, somehow causing a pinkish glow along the horizon.
Great icicles hung from the roof of Beech Nut. As we circled the hut, a little bird flitted away in the grass. I managed to get a decent look through binoculars (and a less decent photo). It looked to be a song sparrow foraging for weed seed. I couldn’t imagine it was very comfortable, considering the temperature.
Song sparrow.
Descending into a frigid breeze, I realized I couldn’t feel my fingertips and so took to opening and closing my gloved hands to get the blood flowing. I worried a little about Jack’s paws—but he seemed oblivious to any cold.
Things warmed noticeably again at the base of the hill. I heard the voice of a downy woodpecker calling from somewhere. No chickadees today, though. No crows on the hill. Nor did I even notice any gulls out during our subsequent errands in town. Dusk came quickly, then a starry night lit by a half-moon. Jupiter, too, hung brightly.
Just now, though, the setting moon glows behind a misty overcast. Less then a week until the dark solstice.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Brown creeper (voice)
2. Song sparrow
3. Downy woodpecker (voice)
Elsewhere
4. House sparrow
5. American crow
Southern sky.
Tags: American crow, brown creeper, downy woodpecker, house sparrow, song sparrow
