I was looking over my garden journals, and it turns out I haven't had a yellow-headed blackbird visit our yard since 2009. I attribute it to the fact that huge parcels of farmland that once connected our neighborhood to the Fossil Creek wetland corridor have been developed into high-density subdivisions.

Last recorded visit, ten years ago.

On a happier note, the lone white crowned sparrow that hangs out with the house finch flock has shown up in his dapper summer plumage today. He's been faithfully visiting us for a decade now -- their average lifespan is 13 years, apparently!

Lookin' mighty fine