3 April 26 Friday


e said, 'oh look, a woodpecker, i think!" i stood up too
quickly, (thoughtlessly), and only saw a large flash of black 
and white near the suet feeder. e saw more than i did. i asked
if he'd seen a bit of red on the head, but e said he hadn't 
seen that clearly, either. 

i'd just said to e yesterday that i felt sad because we were 
seeing a downy woodpecker come visit the suet nearly every day 
a few monthsago, in the thick of winter, but hadn't seen them 
for a long while. i hope they come back! i'm trying to train
myself to be more mindful, and move more slowly.

the feeders are outside the windows by our table in our little 
dining area off the kitchen. 

other than that, a pair of black-capped chickadees were very 
busy cavorting all around the upper feeder and the cable that 
hangs off to one side, back and forth into the bushes or off
up and away to parts unknown. they seem to have gotten much 
less shy over time, and don't seem to mind when we move.

e told me not to move at one point, and ran outside--the 
neighbor cat was in the tote that i've tied up on its side 
facing the window, on top of a little platform. that's where i 
put seed in the winter, for the birds (like the juncos) that
like more of a platform, rather than hanging feeders--in order
to keep the seed protected from the snow. i also thought it would 
be a good shield to keep the birds safe from this menacing
cat that's been stalking over here ever since i put the feeders
up. but now she had, quite deviously, set herself up INSIDE
the makeshift shelter! e scared her off, but we'll have to keep 
thinking of new ways to keep her away from the little winged
ones.