Robin Song

Drab morning under a gray sky; a cold, southeast breeze chills my face. A robin sings its cheery spring song, another robin chuckles, while a third one sounds an alarm call from the woods.

Crows on Morning Foray

Six crows fly east across the field, while a more raucous group of eight circle Bald Hill, land on the tallest pines, then fall silent. A light wind carries no foul odors.

Phoebe arrived in our yard today.

Light Rain

Light rain and mid-40s overnight; one spring peeper on the road--dead. Sweet fragrance of fresh wood chips, the remnants of Asplundh's clearing of the powerline along our road yesterday. Woodcock continue to rule the predawn songscape.

A Sliver Moon

Cold and calm before daybreak. The moon is an orange sliver visible just above the treeline. Four pairs of eyes shine back at us from the Mitchell's lower field, a small herd of deer that survived 2020.

Three Bluebirds in a Row

The mixed flock of birds at our feeders includes three bluebirds sitting in a row. Their brilliant blue feathers brighten an otherwise dull, gray day. A gray squirrel drinks from the heated dog bowl bird bath.

Snow and Slush

Two inches of wet snow slide off our solar panels early this morning, waking us with thuds. Drizzle and near freezing temperature at daybreak. A good day to read the Fedco seed catalog.

New Year's Day 2021

6:30 AM 

First walk of the new year. Clear, calm, 24F. A bright waning gibbous moon hangs in the western sky. Venus shines in the southeast before dawn. The ground is bare of snow; frost crystals sparkle on the brown leaves.

Bluebirds are the first to visit the bird feeders before sunrise.