In about 24 hours I'll be closing on the house I've lived in for the past 16 years and my life is in for a change - a very big change (more on that in a future entry). I will miss this place because, though I've only developed my passion for birds in the last 6 years or so, I was fortunate that, when that time came, the builder had left much of the property native (I've mentioned that before I think). Over the last several days I've had my share of warblers and other migrants and have grabbed my binoculars several times - when I should have been working - to see who was here.

Just a few minutes ago I went looking for my cell phone, found it in the car and, while sitting in the seat, notice a shadow pass by and, a fraction of a second later, a female Pileated lit in one of my oaks briefly (about 12 feet away) before flying down to another oak landing low near the bird bath. She looked around for 30 or 45 seconds before flying over to the water, looked around again, then took a drink. After drinking she would look left, right, above, and behind before taking another drink. She was there for just a couple of minutes, repeating the same routine each time she drank. And I was content to sit quietly and watch.

Just before the woodpecker flew away the explanation point to this experience arrived in the form of a female Painted Bunting who first flew into the Firebush, then to the top of the safflower feeder momentarily before heading over to the mixed seed feeder.

There's a lot of adventure in my future but I will always remember the many moments I've had here that were like this one.

(Damn, I hope the new owners keep those trees.)