Fieldnotes

This Hermit Thrush was unusually confiding/unconcerned about my presence. The bird rapidly shook its legs on the ground. Like an American Woodcock, but more spasmodically. Calling forth the invertebrates… Admittedly, at first I thought this was a nervous disorder! I’ve seen a lot of thrushes over the years, but this was surely the closest, and…

The next time I passed this thicket, there were no Blue Jays to be heard. But right out in the open, albeit on the other side of a chain-link fence, this Cooper’s looked alert. Note the bulging upper chest. This means the bird’s crop is full of lunch. *** Was it as long ago as…

The D train takes a sharp turn and comes out into the open air down in a below-grade cut at 4th Avenue before disappearing back underground about half-a block, or half a train length, east, heading towards 5th Avenue. High fencing surrounds this cut on all sides. A wilderness of trees and vines adds an…

I saw the Bald Eagle in the white oak twice this week. I guess the bird saw me, too. Eagle Power! The silver band is a federal marker. I didn’t see the more readily readable state band on the bird’s left foot, but I’m assuming this bird is marked R over 7. Some have dubbed…

Last night, as sunset approached, I noticed something atop St. Michael’s at 4th Avenue and 42nd St. It was a Peregrine falcon. At the same time, I saw something on the closer large antenna at 5th and 40th: it was another Peregrine! Double trouble, indeed! But it got better. The antenna Peregrine flew off and…

This bird is just so majestic I’m going to put up more pictures. Sounds like the best electoral turnout since 1900, with 66%. So approximately one-third of the nation opposes democracy since they voted for someone who stated, in advance, that he doesn’t want all votes counted if they’re not for him. And wow, their…

Well, well, well, look what I saw on Election Day. In George Orwell’s 1945 essay “Notes on Nationalism” he makes the point that “Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism.” No fucking way that a bunch of eagle-killers get to be called “patriots.” This post was set up hours before polls closed Tuesday, hence…