February 11, 2026

Where: the neighborhood

When: 9:25am

Bird Species: blue jay, European starling, American robin, house sparrow, northern cardinal, Carolina wren

• There have been two jays (married) hanging around the tree right at the end of our parking lot for weeks now. I wonder if they’re setting up a nesting site. That would be awfully convenient.
• My God, hoodie weather at 9:30am. It’s already 40 degrees. We did it, guys. We made it.
• With every step today, the snowcrete is breaking up under my boots, and I have to wonder what it sounds like to any mice or voles under there. A mad giant, stomping around. I also have to wonder if any mosquitoes are down there, larva in piles, dormant, waiting for all of this to melt into puddles and then absolutely destroy me on the first 60 degree day.
• I don’t know the first goddamn thing about the life cycle of mosquitoes, but I know they grow in water and I’m sure they’re plotting something.

• This is one of those days where I keep thinking Whoa, there are so many birds out today and then I check my list and it’s only four kinds. All the birds that run in packs (starling, robin, sparrow) are busy and noisy and close and everywhere. What this morning bird buffet lacks in variety, it makes up for in abundance, much like a CiCi’s Pizza buffet.
• I think I’ll bag work Friday and drive to Delaware. See some dang ducks already.

BOTD: the Carolina wren. Remember yesterday when I said the Bird of the Day must reveal itself? I was sure I was going to have to use a robin or a starling, and just when I started rooting around in my pockets for the lens cap this wren landed in a perfect frame between the tree limbs, with the sun slicing right across his beak and cap and eye and tail. Very nicely done, sir.