Hillside.
Just another sunny November day—election day, by chance. And warmer. By midday, the temperature had topped 60 degrees (F). Crows and jays and chickadees out there. A house sparrow across the road.
Moon.
I wrote all morning and into afternoon. By 1 p.m. or so, I was ready to ride. And I did. It felt like a mild September day. More crows along the roadside, a titmouse in the trees. Along a fast stretch, I spooked a little tan bird that veered away showing a light underside, too quickly to get an ID, but it looked a little like a snow bunting.
Rode up to the polls in Rockport, where I voted for mostly winning issues. Encouraging. Afterward, I changed into hiking clothes and hurried to Beech Hill with Jack.
Heard a chip of a white-throated sparrow near the parking lot. Spotted a group of maybe a dozen flitting chickadees. Also spotted a black housecat, one I’ve seen up there before. (Not a fan of outdoor cats.) And heard crows and a flicker.
The moon is getting fuller. The warmth of the day created some afternoon haze. The landscape held a ruddy hue, like a faded old color photo.
Had a nice chat at the summit, then walked swiftly down. No coots in the lake that I could see. Little wind up there. An incredibly lovely hike today.
The bay.
Back at the parking lot, I heard a blue jay and a hairy woodpecker. Six Beech Hill birds on the day. Not a bad number.
Tonight the moon hangs high and nearer Jupiter. Tomorrow I bet they’ll have switched places in the sky.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. White-throated sparrow (voice)
2. Black-capped chickadee
3. Northern flicker (voice)
4. American crow (voice)
5. Blue jay (voice)
6. Hairy woodpecker (voice)
Elsewhere
7. House sparrow
8. Herring gull
9. European starling
10. Rock pigeon
11. Tufted titmouse
Tags: American crow, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, European starling, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, house sparrow, northern flicker, rock pigeon, tufted titmouse, white-throated sparrow
