March 25, 2026

Where: the neighborhood

When: 7:40am

Bird Species: northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, European starling, common grackle, American crow, blue jay, red-bellied woodpecker, American robin, house sparrow

Things I Thought About:

• ♫ All the waiters in your grand café ♬ Leave their tables when you blink ♫ Oh ohhohhhh ♬
• I heard "Summer, Highland Falls" for the first time in a grip yesterday, and 24 hours later I'm deep into “well, he’s certainly not as good as Paul Simon but he’s definitely a much better singer and songwriter than Sting” territory. This shows no signs of slowing down, but thankfully for all of us, I have also downloaded the Gaudy Night audiobook, for variety.
• In a work context yesterday, I used the phrase “Too poor to paint, too proud to whitewash,” and it was immediately clear no one had ever heard that before in their lives. It went over a treat, though. And perfectly described the situation.
• I was hoping to reset my professional image in this new job, but I hope it won’t be as a folksy yokel. 
• Where is that woodpecker?
• I don’t guess I will ever be serene in my mind about the cardinals, and I have decided to give up researching it. I have learned that it is a myth that the older they get, the richer red their plumage is. I have also learned about the Bloödcheëp subreddit, which is unhinged.
• I have no idea if this is a molt or a skin condition or a diet thing or just a perfectly ordinary color variation, and I have decided not to care, especially. They have a good silhouette regardless of their plumage. 

• Where is that woodpecker?
• Oh, I love that grackle sitting in that fully blooming tree. Like a turd in the punchbowl, is the only simile I can think of, except that would be very bad and this is very good. What's another simile for something black and brooding in the middle of something bright and merry? I'm missing my chance to make linguistic history.

• My sister has asked me to take her out to Huntley this weekend to see some birds and I’m so excited I could make a literal “squee” noise. With the owlet situation we will have to be there around 7:25 am to be able to park, so we’ll see if this happens.
• Found you. No, please don’t cooperate a bit.

• I was actually thinking about driving to a refuge this weekend, too, what with the price of  gas only [checks phone] oh fuck OFF.

BOTD: northern mockingbird. You don't even have to try with these guys, they are such vain little monsters. I know I feature them often, but you go to blog with the birds you have, not the birds you might want or wish to have at a later time.

It's really starting to look like spring! I should learn the names of whatever these trees are that are trying to kill me with allergies.