November 6, 2026
Where: the neighborhood
When: 4:30 pm
Bird Species: blue jay, house sparrow, American robin, northern mockingbird, European starling, yellow-bellied sapsucker, house finch, mourning dove
Things I Thought About:
- Two blue jays were screaming their heads off outside all morning. For about two minutes they were in the tree right outside my window together, and I grabbed up my camera and left frame in a Zoom meeting to try to get it. I did not, but it was the right thing to do.
- I have wrapped up season four of The Diplomat. Hal, why can’t I hate you, why can’t I quit you. WHAT an ending. Good show, that. That television show respects me.
- I think when Taskmaster wraps tonight Chloe should be allowed to give Richard a little sack tap, as a treat.
- Ryan Seacrest just called Vanna White "V-Dubs." I love this? In 2010 Vanna's makeup artist for Wheel told me she is the sweetest person, and that her body is absolutely insane for her age. I am now the age V-Dubs was in 2010, she still looks tight as a tick, and I look a million times worse.
- I wonder if that squirrel is dead.
- Last night I dwelt on a minor humiliation from 1991. Didn't just remember it, didn't just think about it, I dwelt upon it. Great stuff. Love it when it's dark at 5:30 pm. More time for rue-ing.
BOTD: yellow-bellied sapsucker. The eighth of the eight woodpeckers I can see locally, but the others are year-round residents. This one is only passing through. I used to think this bird was not especially attractive, but they are growing on me. This one is a male, with a red crown and throat, and that is a really striking pattern. This one was at the tippy top of a tree, quite a distance away, so the photos are quite soft focus, but live, he really caught my eye.
Unlike the local pickers, the red-bellies and downys, who you will see with a bug or a berry now and then, these guys are true to their excellent name. They drill little sap holes and just drink it up. A well-named bird.
