On my daily sojourn to Exeter’s Powder House Pond in May, I finally had a chance to spend time with an adorable male Red-winged Blackbird, whom I affectionately refer to as Bob. He is a tailless wonder.

Bob seems quite happy guarding his little patch near the pond, singing away with all the bravado of a tenor performing at The Met. Though I’ve not spied him courting a lady friend nor protecting a nearby nest, he patrols his little plot and readily joins other blackbirds to chase Red-tailed Hawks away from the nesting area. In addition, he is usually the first to return from the platoon’s efforts to drive unwanted visitors away. I don’t think he can bank as well as the others but darn it, he’s in the game. Why do I find Bob adorable? Well, I’ve tried my hand at some flight photos, but I failed to capture what he looks like to me when he’s in flight, one of those animated bats in a Looney Tunes cartoon.   

June 3 Update on Bob: 

I checked on Bob during lunch and his tail is growing in, but the bigger news, he’s a dad!! I witnessed him and his better half, whom I lovingly refer to as “Helen”, bringing goodies and tidbits to the little ones safely hidden in the reeds below his favorite perch. I snapped a photo that I believe captures his profound joy, “future little Bobs and Helens on the way and a new tail to beat the band”.