Jonathan Crowe @mcwetboy@wandering.shop

A hungry fledgling grackle works on the last parental nerve.

Caterpillar corner

Inside, outside

Penumbra cat

Late-stage tulips

New blog post: Pretzel, 20 Years On https://www.jonathancrowe.net/2019/05/pretzel-20-years-on/

New visitor today: a rather vocal Baltimore Oriole. First time I’ve ever seen or heard one.

New blog post: Fantasy Maps Don't Belong in the Hands of Fantasy Characters https://www.jonathancrowe.net/2019/05/fantasy-maps-dont-belong-in-the-hands-of-fantasy-characters/

New blog post: Why Do Birds https://www.jonathancrowe.net/2019/05/why-do-birds/

And speaking of the kids, Jennifer had a peek into the phoebes’ nest. Behold, five phoebe eggs—and one egg belonging to the Brown-headed Cowbird, a brood parasite. (I *knew* those cowbirds were up to something.)

The Eastern Phoebes have returned to nest above our front porch light. There’s usually one in the nest at any given point: it’s rare to see them together away from it (see third photo, where they appear to be having words about who’s neglecting the kids).

Mushrooms by the side of the road near the hospital.

New blog post: The Ones Who Walk Away from America https://www.jonathancrowe.net/2019/05/the-ones-who-walk-away-from-america/

New blog post: The Enthusiast's Blind Spot https://www.jonathancrowe.net/2019/05/the-enthusiasts-blind-spot/

Look up

Spring flowers over the long weekend.

Doofus and Scourge, relaxing in a sunbeam.

This female Brown-headed Cowbird was soon accompanied by two very attentive and demonstrative males.

This is the best shot I could get of a small bird that turned up on May 3. Our best guess is that it’s a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. What do you think?

This Yellow-bellied Sapsucker paid us a visit yesterday afternoon.