Nicola Pitchford
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npitchford.bsky.social
Nicola Pitchford
@npitchford.bsky.social
Immigrant. Winner of the inaugural Nature Chronicles Prize (2022). She/her. In Northern California on unceded Coast Miwok land.
That shrinking, weaselly yellow dawn has found its full confidence now. Bring on the volcano.
November 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Morning creeps in, yellowgrey, flattening itself.
November 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
You also inspired me to wear my favourite sweater-vest today. For sisters & also Sisters.
November 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Tuesday dawn. The wild turkey has been calling repeatedly; when the light comes, the hawk starts crying too. Someone rode a motorcycle down the hill road before 6, sound winding away in receding curves.
November 18, 2025 at 2:52 PM
This morning’s sunrise photo. Drizzle drifts across in blurry gusts, the far water of the Bay glows dully silver. A hawk cries, followed by angry crows. When the leaf litter scuttles over the skylights from north to south, I wonder whether it’s creatures scurrying.
November 16, 2025 at 2:47 PM
View from the new house, part II.
November 16, 2025 at 12:28 AM
(Don’t) Let me know when I start boring you.

Perhaps I can make this a game, to write a few sunrise words every* morning. (*Rain due tomorrow.)
November 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
First dawn view from the new home. You’re going to be seeing a lot of these. Also, I heard owls — so perhaps I won’t miss the redwoods outside the house too badly.
November 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
On a lighter note... Don't let the fact that you're onstage at a professional gathering keep you from showing off your @weratedogs.com sticker.
November 13, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Well. It’s possible I’ve seen more exciting & evocative things than the Aurora as rendered by my iPhone.
November 12, 2025 at 4:59 AM
The sky is lavender-pink in all four directions. It truly feels like physical nourishment. Not a presence; but food.
November 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Keep thinking of your wee spud when I see my late aunty's vintage Scotty, who was handed down first to her younger sister (my mum) & subsequently to me. I think this well-loved fellow is approaching 100, so his stuffing has moved a bit with gravity & there's grey in his fur. But who amongst us....
November 11, 2025 at 1:16 AM
And then there’s the view from my (lovely) office. Just perfect autumn light & colour today.

(Please do not expect me to get work done.)
November 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Or walking into a room when you’re leaving soon
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
That moment on the threshold of leaving a room.
November 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The morning sky is feeding me.
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Outstanding pull quote
November 10, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Windy & golden on the big hill this morning. The sickle (or scimitar) shape of a small hawk hangs immobile above me, partner in blue to the receding moon. Where the trees lean close to the trail, clusters of tiny bushtits squeaking.
November 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I never grew deeply attached to this generous-but-always-temporary house, yet I do keep thinking of how these beautiful views over the garden filled my mother’s final weeks. And I’m grateful.

(Those are the garden steps where I broke my wrist.)
November 9, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A grey, drizzly, thoroughly British morning. But there are coyotes whooping somewhere on the hill, the roadsides are glowing with fiery leaves & the California buckeye trees have hung out their bright baubles.
November 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Maybe there’s a little bit of magic in the air tonight.
November 5, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Also playing dress-up for the day.

C’mon CA & NYC let’s go.
November 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I am an immigrant & I vote. Fear me.

(Privileged to be a citizen also.)
November 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Grateful today for the regathering-in of the morning light — & for the clean clear whistled notes of the golden-crowned sparrow (no kings but), with its accrued layers of winter memory.
November 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Oh yes, the autumn light from this window. I had forgotten. It feels lonely to me, makes me think of my mother in this room.
November 3, 2025 at 1:42 AM