Do you see the brown creeper?
A few clouds floated over this early morning, but then the sky turned clear. Didn’t see the usual crows flapping around this morning, but I did hear a titmouse calling from up the hill out back. It turned into another paperwork day—just the kind of desk-chair tedium that gets me hankering for a hike out in the crisp winter air.
Which we did finally, Jack and I, although rather late in the day.
Half moon.
An empty lot awaited us. Beech Hill loomed low and bright in the setting sun.
Right away I heard high, thin voices in the little copse surrounding the parking lot. Golden-crowned kinglets. I looked up into the trees—and spotted a brown creeper circling a spruce trunk. Tried for photos, but the light wasn’t good. Then I saw a couple kinglets dodging and flitting, never sitting still, as is the habit of a golden-crowned. (No decent photos of them, either.) And then I heard chickadees. And then a nuthatch. Before moving a dozen steps, I’d already got four birds on my Beech Hill List.
A couple of high school girls pulled up and passed us, chatting as they walked up the hill. Jack and I hung back as I looked for tiny songbirds. Without much luck.
The trail remains icy, but the sky remained clear. I knew of forecasts calling for a major snowfall tomorrow. That wouldn’t hurt my feelings except that I might not get to skate for a while. (I couldn’t find my skates.) Still, snowshoeing is nearly as fun.
The sun was setting behind some clouds—though it hung a little higher than during yesterday’s hike. A half-moon hovered quietly overhead. A small plane flew past against the orange southwestern sky.
Plane.
Coming back down, I heard the notes of a hairy woodpecker. Then, back at the parking lot, I heard a crow.
Odd that I saw no herring gulls today.
Tonight began clear and starry, but by now a haze of clouds has moved over. I’ll be shoveling snow tomorrow.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Brown creeper
2. Golden-crowned kinglet
3. Black-capped chickadee (voice)
4. White-breasted nuthatch (voice)
5. Hairy woodpecker (voice)
6. American crow (voice)
Elsewhere
7. Tufted titmouse
Sunset.
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, brown creeper, golden-crowned kinglet, hairy woodpecker, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
