We’ve learned that whenever the yard is eerily devoid of small birds around our patio feeders it probably means the local hawk in nearby.  This morning he spent a good deal of time swooping through the yard mostly terrorizing the jays.  And a few times he took a break just outside the kitchen window in our big red Japanese maple.

We’ve been blessed this summer to have frequent visits from at least a couple pileated woodpeckers who we think are mother and offspring and whom we indiscriminately named “Terrence.” They are a bit shy so it’s hard to get a good photo of them but here’s a link to several along with a 30-second video clip.

We haven’t seen our backyard raccoon for many weeks and haven’t thought much about it.  Then this afternoon mother raccoon showed up with two adorable youngsters.  They explored the bird feeders on the maple tree and the bird bath underneath.  I tossed them a few nuts and some old bread.  After a quick snack they headed off into the woods.