September 19, 2026

Where: Huntley Meadows Park

When: 7:30 am

Bird Species: eastern bluebird, northern cardinal, Carolina wren, ruby-throated hummingbird, American crow, red-bellied woodpecker, northern rough-winged swallow, downy woodpecker, American goldfinch, red-headed woodpecker, American robin, Carolina chickadee, osprey, eastern phoebe, northern flicker, blue-gray gnatcatcher, solitary sandpiper, killdeer, lesser yellowlegs, least sandpiper, great egret, great blue heron, red-shouldered hawk, wood duck, eastern wood pewee

Things I Thought About:

• There are many new temporary signs in the park today, "HERBICIDE APPLICATION IN PROGRESS DUE TO INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES STAY ON THE TRAIL." What does this mean for peeing, I wonder, as I do upon entering most spaces since menopause commenced in earnest.
• The walk to the boardwalk is quiet. I was worried I was a little late for action, but the days are shortening, so I think I might be right on time. The two birds I hear first most mornings at home, the cardinal and the wren, are the first two I see today. The most commonplace backyards birds, but with their best face forward.

• Once again, a northern flicker is thwarting and defying me.
• I must watch another episode of the anime my niece likes when I get home so we have something to bond over at dinner tomorrow. I cannot remember a single thing that has happened so far in seven episodes except the hero is eating cursed demon fingers.
• Ohhhhhhh, I think that might be the closest I've ever been to a still hummingbird, I hope I got it.

• A young couple points out an eagle to their child, to which this five- or six-year old politely suggests "It might be an osprey." This little man one hundred percent knows that that is an osprey, but he allows his parents to correct themselves and praise his better eye. This kid owns. He'll be my boss in 30 years.
• I will definitely still be having to work in thirty years. Probably a giant face on a screen will be my boss.
• I carry no greater envy in my heart than that I hold for little children who will run around barefoot anywhere, with no fear at all of stepping on a stone and cutting the bottom of their foot open to the bone.
• There are still shorebirds around, and still plenty of frogs out and about. It's very pleasant and cool, too. It for sure does not feel like fall, but you can almost suspect it will get here someday.

• Last night I heard that Phil Collins famously asked his wife for a divorce by fax machine and I've been thinking about that for hours and hours. You get a fax from your husband, the short bald international pop rock star Phil Collins, asking for a divorce, and as you stare at it in disbelief you hear a shriek as another page comes in. You grab it, knowing that no one would have this conversation in this way, hoping for some explanation, to hear that this is a joke, and it is the fax transmission report.
• I heard that in a Would I Lie to You? YouTube compilation and I will never fact check it. Last night I heard in a Hallmark movie that Jimmy Carter was an avid birder who had over 1100 birds on his life list, and I'll never fact check that, either. Both these items feel spiritually correct, and the sources seems correct for them, too.

• Well, there's a hawk. I should ask the readers of the blog to manifest me a little neck rub and $85,000.

BOTD: red-shouldered hawk. He looks fat and young and a little overwhelmed to me, like Ethan Suplee in Remember the Titans.

He stayed in this covering vegetation, occasionally hopping up and coming down hard, talons out, looking for frogs.

He eventually came up with something, flew away to a perch in the dark, naturally, and did unspeakable things to it.

Beautiful bird. My favorite hawk. I was excited to see him, and I credit you, pals and gals. Great job.