i had the best saturday morning.

i put fresh bird seed on my patio when i woke up – after forgetting about it for a week or so. the squirrels and some tiny birds came to visit immediately.

a short while later, i was standing in my kitchen making toast when i heard what sounded like an entire flock of birds chirping outside. i was sure that wasn’t possible and it was just one loud bird but i looked up anyway – i can see out the window from the kitchen – and an entire flock of tiny birds, easily 50 or more, flew up out of the bushes and into the trees in a beautiful arc. it looked like the flocks of birds that i often see while driving, where it looks like they’re all dancing in unison. my jaw dropped; it was so amazing.

i looked out at the birds on the patio a bit later only to see a varied thrush. it has a slate-grey and orange pattern and is such a pretty bird. it showed up one day a few months ago and i have been watching for it ever since (partly because i wanted to find out what kind of bird it was – this time i figured it out because i looked it up on my phone while i was looking at it).

i have decided to name the thrush sophie, even though i suspect she is a he.