July 6, 2026
Where: the neighborhood
When: 7:30 am
Bird Species: house sparrow, gray catbird, European starling, American crow, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, American goldfinch, song sparrow, American robin
Things I Thought About:
- I have not yet begun strength training. I am one full week behind on my intention to become completely ripped by my next birthday.
- I have started doing my ankle PT again regularly, so that's okay. That'll help.
- Oh, dang, there goes a goldfinch! That's uncommon for the neighborhood loop.
- I had a faint hope that the fireworks would have burned my office building down, but I probably would have heard about it if they had. I guess I'll head back into DC tomorrow.
- USA is gonna get hosed tonight. (Ed note: that was vibes based, sorry that it seems to be coming true.)
- A lot of activity on the rooftops this morning. I like this one male cardinal oh so casually doing a little dance next to the lady. The other male ran him off immediately, but he seemed determined.
- Once you start noticing them, you'll find that birds are everywhere, all the time. There never isn't a bird around, doing something at least mildly interesting.
- No less a figure than Jack None Reacher has remarked (novel, not series), people just don't look up. I myself am now always looking up. I think a really dedicated bird watcher could prevent Jack Reacher from getting a jump on him in a warehouse with catwalks.
- Granted, I am often stumbling off curbs and tripping over roots when I look up, so maybe not. 50/50.
- Yes. That's correct. 50/50 I could take Jack Reacher in a cat and mouse with my superior bird skills.
BOTD: American crow. There were quite a few of them around these fruiting trees today, being extremely large and extremely cool. (I also saw one on a chimney top, with a hot dog bun in his mouth, like a dork.) And yes, I do still ask out loud if it's okay for me to take a photo. No one needs a crow to be upset with them.
