Wrentit power! 🔋⚡️🪶

Yes, I did find a rare Philly Vireo in SLO County, CA. Only the second I’ve seen! 🪶

First time finding a rare Prairie Warbler here in San Luis Obispo! Look at that cute tum tum! 🪶

How about some Risso’s for a timeline cleanser?

Once again, I don't believe anything out of the mouths of high-ranking U.S. government officials.

Willow you love or hate me? 🪶

TEN SLEEP by @nicholasbelardes.bsky.social TEN SLEEP is slow-going horror: less preoccupied with shocking and more intent on drawing you into Greta's mind. Like The Deading, this book clearly sprouted from the author's naturalist roots. #bookreview

Bird photo. Okay . . . Sunset photo that just happened to have a lil birb blur . . .

Virg without his tail is still a hero among warblers. 🪶

Virg, the tailless Virginia's Warbler takes a bath and gives a tink call before getting in a tussle with a Black Phoebe. I really thought Virg was a goner, but he gave the phoebe the slip and hid in a bush. 🪶

Your daily reminder not to normalize white supremacy.

I feel this. 🪶

Virginia’s Warbler, missing its tail, still happily taking a bath. 🪶

Go figure. I was thinking foreign agent. Maybe Russian or Israeli. Maybe Maga killed their own. Nope, wife walked past yesterday with her coffee, said, "Mormon Luigi" and walked away. She knew.

Silly Hutton’s Vireo timeline cleanser. 🪶

Leucistic crow wing for the day’s strange omen. 🪶

Weird how talking heads all assume this was a US citizen doing the attacking.

I dont rule out: Russians, Chinese, Venezuelan retribution, cartels, Maga military sacrificing their own, ex-military American left extremist. Cast the net of suspicion widely.

I would like to go on @failingwriters.bsky.social as BUFFY WINGBARS. I will describe the mysterious disappearance of a bird lover . . . and possibly trace clues to a seaside whale watching company that disposes of . . . things . . . overboard . . .

Who wants to guess? Had buffy wingbars and short primary extensions. Made no sound. Seen in SLO, CA. Could use an expert. 🪶

Random Nashville. Wonder which subspecies. I hear there is going to be a split. 🪶

We all need some tanager love. 🪶

Snacky treat! 🪶

Warblers are starting to arrive . . . 🪶

Little blue (rarity for my county—several years since one showed up) doing her thing while a gull and a snowy egret mind their own business. 🪶

You’ve been quail’d. 🪶

Is it really that you play dead? Or is it something more sinister? This is your friendly reminder that THE DEADING is now out in paperback. Get it from all major retailers. @erewhonbooks.bsky.social @kensingtonbooks.bsky.social Video creator: @rwrkb.bsky.social Watch for more collabs!

Double stilties in SLO County! 🪶

Neotropic Cormorant does its dooo-ty! 🫡🪶

Blueberry. 🪶

Found today. Haven't posted it yet. Thoughts? Has a white rump, rufous upper back, black and brown uniform scaling, long droopy bill. The bird was fluffing itself and preening so looks plumper than it is. Curlew Sandpiper or Dunlin? Thoughts? 🪶

Yes, I did take an awful pic of a rare Least Bittern here in SLO County. Yes, I’m alone in seeing one in my county this year. Yes, my crap photo means bragging rights. 😅🪶

I’m giving away a $125 gift card to a newsletter subscriber (or current one who comments there). Also, a stuffed Think Tank bear, a tiny cow backpack, and other surprises. Not many people have signed up, so your chances of winning are big! nicholasbelardes.substack.com/p/time-for-a...

I’m just common. 🪶

Doing a craft read of DEPARTURE 37-- a new thriller by Scott Carson (pseudonym). Had to get it--was near TEN SLEEP on the NEW FICTION shelf at @barnesandnoble.com. Oh, and finished THE DEVILS by Joe Abercrombie! 10/10 one of my fave books of the year. Funny, off-color, super adventurous . . .

I’m giving away a $125 gift card to a newsletter subscriber (or current one who comments there). Also, a stuffed Think Tank bear, a tiny cow backpack, and other surprises. Not many people have signed up, so your chances of winning are big! nicholasbelardes.substack.com/p/time-for-a...

Resonance (UC Press) is looking for humanities research across the following topics: Sound in Political Crisis, Sound and Social Justice, Experiments in Sound, Sound Archives and Preservation, and we're convening a permanent series that'll examine "Film and Cinema Sound" in 2026. Please circulate!

My novel TEN SLEEP sandwiched between THE DEADING and THE EXORCIST at @barnesandnoble.com in San Luis Obispo. Yessss! @erewhonbooks.bsky.social @kensingtonbooks.bsky.social

Writing? Yeah. Slow rolling for a month now. Really need to kick my motivation into gear. Otherwise, gonna break a world record for pedaling along to the same chapter. Someone pour a drink. We'll toast to our pain.

Hermie. 🪶

Mood-vibe. 🪶

Beautifully arranged and produced. A must-listen, as if history, Hollywood, poetry & music all collided in a lovely, angry, gorgeous, and intellectual sonic masterpiece. This is the Waterboys album I've waited for since picking up "Fisherman's Blues" in a Bakersfield record store in the late '80s.

ALIEN EARTH is worse than the terrible Prometheus and Covenant films. I barely got through two episodes and now need to cleanse myself with some muppet reruns.

The Deading in good company in this lovely, dark pic out of Sioux Falls. I wanna go to Sioux Falls!

Grackle with the zombie eye membrane. Maybe spooky season has arrived early! 🪶

Big news!!! My next anthology, ACT UP BEYOND NEW YORK: Stories and Strategies from a Movement to End the AIDS Crisis, will be published by @haymarketbooks.org!!!🎉🎉🎉And, it's the Deal of the Day on Publishers Marketplace, get ready... Call for submissions coming very soon, watch out for it!💕💥

Random pics from birding today. Targets: baird’s sando and parula. One out of two achieved. 🫩

DREYER’S ENGLISH is fun, witty, and injects wisdom into my flailing writer brain . . . I am lost on No. 49 of “Assorted Things.” Possible to get an example or link to an example @bcdreyer.social? Or maybe just tell me to go ask my wife to ‘splain it to me.

The three bird musketeers want you to know, “Never fear quarrels, but seek hazardous adventures!” 🪶

The three bird musketeers want you to know, “Never fear quarrels, but seek hazardous adventures!” 🪶