CRITTERS OUT AND ABOUT

 A new bird has arrived: a Brown Thrasher. They are generally secretive as they hang out under dense vegetation. Their coloring certainly helps them blend in with brown leaf litter. They are in the same family as catbirds (which we have in residence) and mockingbirds and  are exuberant singers, with one of the largest repertoires of any North American songbird.

C had put out some old strawberries which were ignored for an entire day until Stubbs figured out that they were good eatin'.

A young Nutkin (red squirrel) was flying about which is their nature. Being small, their strategy for staying alive is to be fast and nervous. I saw him dash down the birch, across the Diner, upsetting M.M. Redbird who flew off in a huff, up the pool stairs railing, up on the pool railing, down again and barrelled up the feeder pole smack into the baffle.

Nutkin, I am happy to report, was unhurt. He flew back down the feeder pole, up the pool stairs to the pool railing and ran as far as it goes and disappeared.