Rose-breasted Grosbeak

It was the towhee that introduced us. I see him occasionally, hear his song daily and yet, the only photo I’ve been able to capture of my towhee friend is the silhouette of him singing in the rain in early March. So now and then, when I hear him nearby, I grab my camera and out the door I go.

Last week he led me to the edge of the woods where the wood thrush was singing. Then someone landed on the limb above my head. I looked up and to my surprise, it was this rose-breasted grosbeak. And he stayed for a while. He entertained me moving about on the branches, picking and feeding. I later came back with a chair and some real shoes. (Ants love sandals.) And this is when I also met two warblers. In all I've met four new warblers right here in my own yard, migrants visiting to rest and feed.

Last evening a cat bird was calling outside my window, very mew like, as everyone was settling down for the night. Earlier that morning two brown thrashers were perched together in the dogwood, near that same spot. It’s a wonderful time of year. Expect the unexpected.