Tom Guzzio

Today’s theme for #BirdOfTheDay is #Branched, birds on thin branches. The Alt theme is #Grounded, birds standing on the ground. Same red-tailed hawk pre- (grounded) and post-meal (branched). I’ve shared these shots before but couldn’t resist. #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 27: A song you heard live before the studio version. I saw Wet Leg live just about a month before they released this single, which preceded their debut by about four days. They were, and are, a special band. I hope they’re around for a long while.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #OnOneLeg, birds balancing on one leg. This northern shoveler is definitely monopodding. #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 26: A song that reminds you of being a teenager. I was 14 when Strength by The Alarm was released and I wore that cassette out. “Spirit of 76” speaks to me differently now, but I still listen when “I find myself in reverie…”

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BrownBirds; any bird with mostly brown plumage. It’s nice to see brown birds getting some love. I mean, look at this beautiful song sparrow! Such a beauty… #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 25: A song for a rainy Sunday afternoon. “Butterfly, searching for a relax / Pulling from the jazz stacks 'cause it's Sunday…” This track from Digable Planets catches the mood fairly well.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay is #LMNO, any bird whose name starts with one of those letters. This wouldn’t have counted last year, but a name change—adding “northern” to the front of “yellow warbler”—makes it work. #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 24: A song you would put in a time capsule. This would be my choice, with the hope that the change Cooke longed for flowered and spread by the time the capsule was unearthed.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Juveniles, any juvenile bird. The Alt theme is #Green, birds with Green backgrounds. Between the preening mute swan, the ruffled Canada goose, and the goslings in between there’s LOTS going on in this shot, but I believe it covers all the bases! #Birds 🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 23: A song that belongs at the end of a long night. “And you woke up together, not quite realizing how / Awkwardly stretching and yawning / It's always hard in the morning…” Great song by a great band.

This could be very interesting… Let’s see if his team lets him do it.

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Seasonal; any shot from Autumn/fall/whatever season you have now. Are those autumn leaves or American robins? #Birds🪶🍁

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 22: A song that introduced you to an artist you now love. I was working the special order counter of a big-box home improvement store when this perfect song inexplicably played over the store radio. I was hooked. The Trashcans are criminally underrated.

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 21: A song where the chords are played as broken chords. Robert White plays broken three-note triads beneath the verses.

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Black&White; any bird with Black & White plumage. The Alt. is #Colourful; any bird with 3 or more colours. Does this rose-breasted grosbeak count as a two-fer? #Birds🪶

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LittleLegs, any bird with small legs. This white breasted nuthatch qualifies, even with those big feet! #Bird🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 20: A song with a counterpoint. The intro to “Stairway to Heaven” features an ascending guitar part against a descending bass line. You can just pick it up in the trailer for Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew.

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 19: A song that predicted a musical trend. “Tomorrow Never Knows” sits at the base of many trends: sampling, tape loops, integrating eastern sounds into western pop music… Lay down all thoughts. Surrender to the void.

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Reflection, any bird reflection. The Alt. Theme is #Pairs, any pair of birds. This cinnamon teal pair are spending some quality pond time together. #Birds🪶

Today’s Alt. #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Turdidae; like this eastern bluebird giving us the side-eye (walk away slowly and silently, and there will be no trouble)👿 #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day: A remix that changes the character of the original. The Apollo 440 Magic Hour Remix of U2’s “Mysterious Ways” gives the song a brooding, dirge-like quality that’s miles away from the original’s tone. It brings out the darkness that exists in the song.

Today’s Alt. #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Dusk; any bird captured at sunset. I got this shot in Barcelona on my honeymoon 14 years ago with an iPhone 5. My wife and I were taking advantage of our hotel’s rooftop pool when these greylag geese decided to pretty up an already gorgeous sunset. #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 17: A song with a surprisingly good acoustic version. “Mama Said Knock You Out” from LL Cool J’s MTV Unplugged session is a banger! He and the band absolutely kill.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme Alt theme is #Coots&Moorhens, any Coot or Moorhen will do. This American coot was just relaxing, wondering what the big to-do was with all the photographers.

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Oct 16: A song you’d love to hear another artist perform. I’d love to see a female alt-country artist like Shelby Lynne or Hurray for the Riff Raff put their spin on this Duran Duran classic.

The main #BirdOfTheDay theme is #JKLM bird species starting with these letters. The Alt theme is #Grey, birds with Grey in its Plumage. Here’s a northern mockingbird doing a poor job hiding from the paparazzi. #Birds 🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 15: A song that deserves a rock interpretation. Louis Armstrong traded verses with Louis Jordan on this jump blues classic. I could see Jack White and Iggy Pop tackling an entertaining rock version. Somebody make some calls!

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay Alt. theme is #UrbanBirds; any bird in an Urban setting. This poorly lit, but kinda abstract shot captures a red-tailed hawk using a massive antenna as its perch. #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 14: A song that deserves a jazz interpretation. I shared “Synchronicity II” by The Police for Day 11, and I wrote: “I always thought this tune would be perfect for a lounge-style cover. It swings.” So, yeah… using it again. Sorry not sorry. 😉

Today’s Alt. #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LookingUp; any bird looking up/head raised. This black and white warbler is acting like a gospel singer at Sunday service. #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 13: A song with a memorable spoken-word section. Grace Jones give “Election Day” by Arcadia—a DD side project—a spoken word bridge. For us in the States, this song is prescient! 💙🌊

On this #IndigenousPeoplesDay many people are congregating in Salem, Massachusetts—just across the bridge from my home—wearing witch hats or Jason masks. But not only is there an exceptional museum in Salem, it also takes great care in telling and honoring indigenous people’s stories.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Brown, any bird with Brown in its plumage. This red-tailed hawk has its head on a swivel as it scouts for breakfast. #Birds 🪶

#MusicChallenge #IsmuasMonthOfMusic Day 12: a song with a melody that emphasizes chord tones. In “Archie, Marry Me” Alvvays creates a song you can easily sing along to by having the melody land on straightforward chords.

There’s nothing beautiful about this bill, with its most dangerous provisions designed to kick in after midterms.

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Ducks&GeeseInFlight, any Ducks or Geese in flight. This accidentally monochromatic capture doesn’t really do these Canada geese justice. They are elegantly fierce survivors. #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 11: A song that uses parallel major and minor. “Synchronicity II” by The Police deliberately uses parallel A-chords to mirror the dual worlds described in Sting’s lyrics. I always thought this tune would be perfect for a lounge-style cover. It swings.

Did @helenbennett.bsky.social say today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Green, and the Alt theme is #Geese? Because, well… #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 10: A song where the bass and drums talk to each other. “Flashlight” by Parliament features a loose, minimalist drum beat that gives the synth bass played by Bootsy Collins plenty of room to chat.

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay Alt theme is #GardenBirds; any bird that you might see in your garden… Like this female house finch sampling the cool water from our birdbath. #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 9: A song for the world's strangest party. “Party at ground zero A ‘B’ movie starring you And the world will turn to flowing Pink vapor stew” Growing up in the 80s at the tail end of the Cold War, the premise of this Fishbone song seemed plausible.

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Crooners, birds singing. This purple finch was busking over a bench while perched in a shady tree. Whose voice do you hear as you look at this picture? Sinatra? Waits? It’s too slight for Armstrong, I think. Maybe Byrne… #Birds🪶

A little late, but here’s a friendly reminder to LET BOOKS BE. Happy #BannedBooksWeek to all who celebrate free speech.

The #BirdOfTheDay Alt theme today is #Perched, birds standing on anything except branches. This house wren is standing in a vent stack, perhaps thinking about its life choices. #Birds🪶

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 8: A song that makes you think of a crowded nightclub. Let’s stick with Depeche Mode and their “Behind the Wheel / Route 66 Megamix.” I had this in a cd single back in the day. As far as I know, it does not stream.

#IsmuasMonthOfMusic 🎼 #MusicChallenge 🎶 Day 7: A song that feels strangely peaceful. Let’s have a “Black Celebration” with Depeche Mode tonight… Atmospheric and dark, yet also somewhat peaceful.