Jack on the trail.
A warm yet dreary day at first, but brightened by the voice of a golden-crowned kinglet. Soon it turned rainy. Steadier rain in late morning, when I dropped everything for a dental appointment. That went well. I even made a joke: “I know the drill.” Gulls and crows out in the rain.
Birch.
Worked until mid-afternoon. By then the rain had stopped and the world had succumbed to a thick, warm fog. Chickadees at the parking lot, but otherwise only the sound of distant traffic in the fog. That is, until we reached the summit, when I heard the faint peeps of birds down in the western field. Sparrows of some kind, but unfamiliar to me. I didn’t expect to see the birds that made them.
But I did. Just as Jack and I had rounded the first dark, foggy curve, two sparrows flitted into a trailside bush. Stopped at once, lifted my binocs, got a good look at the nearest one. Rich brown cap, dark eyeline, bright white wingbars, spot on its breast. They were American tree sparrows.
And they made an already fairly worthwhile day immensely more worthwhile.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee
2. American tree sparrow
Elsewhere
3. American crow
4. Golden-crowned kinglet
5. Herring gull
6. Ring-billed gull
Tags: American crow, American tree sparrow, black-capped chickadee, golden-crowned kinglet, herring gull, ring-billed gull
