backyard birds

January 13, 2026

Sara Kate Wilkinson

13 Jan 2026 — 1 min read

Bird of the Day: an American robin, hanging out by the chain link fence, like the smokers do

Where: the neighborhood

When: 11:20am

Bird Species: blue jay, house sparrow, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, American robin, Cooper's hawk (flyover), European starling, mourning dove, Canada goose (flyover)

Things I Thought About:

Fuck ICE. Get the fuck off of my planet.
My shitty dental insurance reloading for the year and tomorrow's blissful reunion with my periodontal life partner Dr. Beri, DDS, DMD, MMSc.
It is good to go outside every day. This will be good for me this year.
I thought for a second that was a cedar waxwing, which would be huge for me, but I think it’s another blue jay. They’re everywhere today.
That Cooper's hawk must be eating very well around here.
Heard but not seen: Carolina chickadee. I had to get Merlin out; I so often hear their buzzy little call that I had forgotten they also have that lovely little four-note song.
When I get home, I need to share my promotion to LinkedIn so I can increase my ask for the next job I apply for. Also so my employers don’t suspect how remarkably churlish I am about being promoted to the level at which I have been working for more than a year.
I wonder what the LinkedIn sociopaths are saying about Minneapolis. How to Support Your Remote Team When ICE Shoots Their Neighbor in the Head in Front of Them. "First, show empathy."
Girl, you should just post the bird and get out today. You are not in the right frame of mind for small joys.
I bet we beat ass at trivia tonight.

BOTD: American robin. I have said before that I think they lack dignity, and that is why I am so taken with this photo. That three piece eye ring looks very mysterious and almost elegant here, with all his breast feathers hidden. He's lurking here. He looks like the caped man at a costume ball who unmasks to reveal the daring thief they have all been looking for. It's the orange breast that makes them look like clowns.

January 20, 2026

Where: Wakefield Park The Brushy Hedgerow When: 11:43 am 12:06pm Bird Species: mourning dove, house sparrow, house finch, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, white-throated sparrow, blue jay Things I Thought About: * Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, COLD. I do not want to go for a walk, I want

January 19, 2026

Where: Cross County Trail, Eakin Community Park through Sally Ormsby Park When: 12:00pm Bird Species: white-throated sparrow, dark-eyed junco, northern cardinal, hairy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, ruby-crowned kinglet, red-shouldered hawk, Carolina wren Things I Thought About: * I don’t like how if you don’t do your physical therapy at

January 18, 2026

Where: Hidden Oaks Nature Center When: 12:00pm Bird Species: tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, Carolina chickadee, house finch, dark-eyed junco, mourning dove, downy woodpecker, brown creeper, red-bellied woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, American crow, turkey vulture (flyover), northern flicker, pileated woodpecker Things I Thought About: * I cannot believe the first thing I

January 17, 2026

Where: Huntley Meadows Park When: around 3pm until sundown Bird Species: Carolina chickadee, northern cardinal, red-headed woodpecker, tufted titmouse, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, song sparrow, swamp sparrow, white-throated sparrow, northern mockingbird, Canada goose, mallard, northern shoveler, northern pintail, eastern towhee, great blue heron, fish crow. Heard but not seen: Northern

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