Thrashing #27

Species #27 on my visual yard bird list - the Brown Thrasher.  Last year I didn't have this species in my yard, so I was delighted when I looked out this morning and saw a flash of cinnamon brown feathers with bright yellow eyes.  This is the largest member of our Mimic Thrush family here on the east coast and like all members of the mimidae family, he has an expansive vocabulary and an astonishing ability to mimic sounds.  But the Brown Thrasher also has a habit of repeating each phrase twice (unlike Mockingbirds who repeat three times and Gray Catbirds who don't follow any of the rules) so it is fairly easy to recognize the vocalizations just by the repetition pattern.

Had a delightfully long talk with my parents this morning.  We are all making adjustments to the new lessening of rules.  While it is so nice to know that the numbers are still declining sharply here in the US, there is also some trepidation about the loosening of restrictions.  We will all have our own "glide path" along this journey to the new normal.  And that will require us all to be patient with one another and respectful of each person's path.  In my family, we are erring on the side of cautious.

Looking forward to talking to my nephew and his family a little later this afternoon.  He just returned from his fifth tour of duty with the Army and now getting ready to head to his next assignment.  Which in his case will be a couple of years to get his PhD, fully funded by the Army.  Can't wait to hear his voice!

Stay safe, re-enter at your own pace, be kind and today's chocolate recommendation is dark with sea salt.  

xo
Debbi