Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)

Happy 50th blip to me! I celebrated by getting up this morning and trying out my new Breville mini pie maker with the pie cherries I got in my CSA last summer. They've been waiting in the freezer just for a day like this. While they were cooking, I decided I should add some more woodpecker mix to the ground feeder. I came around the corner to the sliding glass door, and I don't know if the varied thrush in the feeder was more startled to see me than I was to see him. It's been a while since I've seen one in the backyard. I love the thrushes, I think they have the most beautiful songs of all songbirds. The varied has a single note that it holds for a few seconds before it trails off. The Swainson's thrush, which we also have here (though I have yet to see one) has hands down the most beautiful song of all birds, IMHO. I love to go hiking in the woods and hear them.

We both composed ourselves, he made several more visits and this time I was ready with my camera. The pies turned out wonderful, and yes, I did have one for breakfast. Just think of it as the most decadent pop tart ever.

Watching the BCS championship tonight, and B is a huge, huge, huge, Alabama fan. The yelling has begun...