Last week I was watching the siskins as they darted around chasing each other off their perches on the thistle feeders, obviously chasing each other off so another would get the spot. This is for some reason always amusing to me, and I am so glad that the siskins have returned here and I can use up the many, many pounds of thistle I bought in the last of the summer. Now that there has been no Cooper's appearances for about three plus months, the birds are returning to normal here.

All of a sudden the suicidal little guys started darting in every direction, including my glass doors as usual no matter what I do, including covering the windows with sheer curtains. Thinking a jay had come to check out the feeder for long gone peanuts for the day, I was absolutely shocked to look into the laurels and see a Raven sitting on the jays' favorite branch. It stayed there for several minutes and flew off. Never to land here again, at least that I have seen. Since I have never seen one here before, I had really hoped it would stay around at least long enough for some pictures. No luck. But a great surprise for the day!

jvbonham
Centralia, WA