In the Company of Towhees

Wood lily,
lilium philadelphicum

This morning I went on my Pout Ponds walk at 7 am in a brisk 24 mph wind from the southwest. The temperature was already 75 degrees; the weather changed to mugginess. Southeasterly winds that had kept the weather crisp and in the low seventies for the past several weeks.

I parked near Altar Rock, and the white topped asters filled the open fields nearby. I plucked some low bush blueberries, already fruited and reddening. The sickle-leaved asters congregated in the center of the road. The Bayberries were green and ripening. A few left over ox-eyed daisies inhabit the shady spots, and there is also some remaining St. Johnswort.

Low-bush blueberry

Toothed White-topped Aster,
Sericocarpus asteroides

I was in the company of towhees, because they are the most prevalent bird on the moors, preeting regularly. I heard about thirty of them all along the walk. There were only a few "drink-your-tea"s. A blue jay honked and the common yellowthroat and red winged blackbirds were at the pond.

The first Pout Pond looks to be 10-12 feet lower than usual. A benefit was Virginia Meadow beauties in the wet spots.

As I turned the bend to head back, the heath and lichen field was very dry. Little lichen remained and very subdued. But the groves of golden false indigo were many along the road.

And there is a wood lily!

A young male northern harrier swooped above me, calling and swooping away on the winds.

A new gate has been erected...#wildnantucket continues to be civilized, even in the moors. Planes  coming in to land also remind me of the  hustle bustle of the mainland. I walked back to my car and headed home. There, hundreds of people walk the road up to the Sankaty Light every day.