One Fell Swoop

Just another birdwatching tale

Searching for seeds blown away from the feeder by wind gusts, the little birds left tracks all over the driveway.

This morning’s layer of snow was unexpected but welcome. It made everything pretty and birds came flocking to the feeders. No sleet or freezing rain this time. Temperatures are cold enough to keep the precipitation soft and fluffy.

This little woodpecker stayed on the suet feeder all morning, gorging on the rich, nut-and-fruit filled cake.

A blue jay returned this morning on a scouting trip, only to find the feeder was bare. Not interested in the nyjer seed and chased away from the suet feeder by a voracious woodpecker, it hung around for a while and darted from branch to branch. When I made an appearance with my camera, it absconded.

Finding the feeder bare, the juncos went around to the back to find some dried black-eyed susan seeds as a snack. Leave the garden messy, people! Wildlife will thank you. Ask the bunnies that nest in my pinks.

On the patio, juncos decided to fend for themselves, gorging on black-eyed susan seeds. As I stood photographing them, something large flew by. My head swiveled around - there on the river birch was a young hawk. It sat there for a while, looking young, innocent and a little lost. Little heads poked up all over the weeping cherry, sparrows and a wren on high alert, eyes fixed on the hawk until it flew away. Another surreal experience.

The hawk spent the better part of 10 minutes on the river birch, carefully watched by a host of smaller birds.

The sparrows and a wren sat erect, vigilant, tense, until the hawk flew away. Then they went about their business.

These pretty patterns always fascinate me. Simple, delicate sketches in snow.